Accessibility

The ARL Joint Task Force on Services to Patrons with Print Disabilities released this report to bring much-needed attention to the challenges of print-disabled individuals who are seeking access to both print and digital library products and services. The report contains recommendations for research libraries to make information accessible to their full range of diverse users equitably. ARL believes that research libraries are poised to provide critical direction—along with academic leadership, IT, and disability services—on the service and technology planning, procurement, and licensing necessary to create a fully accessible information environment.

RLI issue 281 includes:

• Editor's Note
• Executive Summary
• Print Disabilities, Libraries, and Higher Education
• US and Canadian Disability Policies, Recent Challenges, and US and Canadian Copyright Law
• Research Libraries and Individuals with Print Disabilities
• Universal Design, Inclusive Design, Accessibility, and Usability
• Conclusion
• Appendix A: Model Licensing Language

Research libraries have a responsibility to make library collections and services universally accessible to their patrons. And as research libraries provide more content electronically to students, faculty members, researchers, and others, the role of libraries and other partners in their institutions and beyond is changing in the provision of information resources and services to patrons with disabilities.

print-disabilities-tfreport02nov12.pdf

SPEC Kit 321 explores what services are being provided and how users are made aware of them; what assistive technologies are being offered today and who maintains them; which library staff have responsibility for providing services and how are they trained; and what service policies and procedures are in place for users with disabilities. It includes documentation from respondents that describe the services offered, the assistive technology that is available, service policies, user needs assessment, staff training materials, and job requirements for service coordinators.

This publication is available for purchase in both online and print versions. Download the spec-kit-purchase-options-2013.pdf  for complete pricing and purchase options information.

Link to the online SPEC Kit 321 on the ARL Digital Publications website.

Comments from ALA, ACRL, and ARL address the need for improved and expanded access to copyrighted works for the blind and persons with other disabilities.

noi-comments-print-disabilities-28apr09.pdf

A scanned version of SPEC Kit 243 (Transforming Libraries 8) is available full view through HathiTrust. View document here »