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>Subject: FW: Library Services for People With Disabilities
>Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 11:27:05 -0500
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>Thread-Topic: Library Services for People With Disabilities
>Thread-Index: AcEK0KPZbVI5rHxOTz273EHX4qAmrAAHs/8Q
>From: "Cutsforth, Cheryl L." <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "Schneider, Katherine S." <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Rose, Robert F.
>> Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 7:46 AM
>> To: LIBRARY.STAFF
>> Subject: Library Services for People With Disabilities
>>
>> Colleagues:
>>
>> The following was adopted as American Library Association policy at
>> the San Francisco conference.
>>
>> Bob
>> ----------------------------------
>>
>> Item 3. To incorporate Policy 54.3.2 (Library Services For People
>> with
>> Disabilities) into the ALA Policy Manual to read: "The American
>> Library
>> Association recognizes that people with disabilities are a large and
>> neglected minority in the community and are severely underrepresented
>> in
>> the library profession. Disabilities cause many personal challenges.
>> In
>> addition, many people with disabilities face economic inequity,
>> illiteracy,
>> cultural isolation, and discrimination in education, employment and
>> the
>> broad range of societal activities.
>>
>> Libraries play a catalytic role in the lives of people with
>> disabilities by
>> facilitating their full participation in society. Libraries should
>> use
>> strategies based upon the principles of universal design to ensure
>> that
>> library policy, resources and services meet the needs of all people.
>>
>> ALA, through its divisions, offices and units and through
>> collaborations
>> with outside associations and agencies is dedicated to eradicating
>> inequities and improving attitudes toward and services and
>> opportunities
>> for people with disabilities.
>>
>> For the purposes of this policy, 'must' means 'mandated by law and/or
>> within ALA's control' and 'should' means 'it is strongly recommended
>> that
>> libraries make every effort to.' Please see
>> http://www.ala.org/ascla/access_policy.html for the complete text of
>> the
>> policy, which includes explanatory examples.
>>
>> 1. The Scope of Disability Law
>>
>> Providing equitable access for persons with disabilities to library
>> facilities and services is required by Section 504 of the
>> Rehabilitation
>> Act of 1973, applicable state and local statutes and the Americans
>> with
>> Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
>>
>> 2. Library Services
>>
>> Libraries must not discriminate against individuals with disabilities
>> and
>> shall ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to
>> library resources.
>>
>> Libraries should include persons with disabilities as participants in
>> the
>> planning, implementing, and evaluating of library services, programs,
>> and
>> facilities.
>>
>> 3. Facilities
>>
>> The ADA requires that both architectural barriers in existing
>> facilities
>> and communication barriers that are structural in nature be removed as
>> long
>> as such removal is 'readily achievable.' (i.e., easily accomplished
>> and
>> able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense.)
>>
>> 4. Collections
>>
>> Library materials must be accessible to all patrons including people
>> with
>> disabilities. Materials must be available to individuals with
>> disabilities
>> in a variety of formats and with accommodations, as long as the
>> modified
>> formats and accommodations are 'reasonable,' do not 'fundamentally
>> alter'
>> the library's services, and do not place an 'undue burden' on the
>> library.
>>
>> Within the framework of the library's mission and collection policies,
>> public, school, and academic library collections should include
>> materials
>> with accurate and up?to?date information on the spectrum of
>> disabilities,
>> disability issues, and services for people with disabilities, their
>> families, and other concerned persons.
>>
>> 5. Assistive Technology
>>
>> Well?planned technological solutions and access points, based on the
>> concepts of universal design, are essential for effective use of
>> information and other library services by all people. Libraries
>> should
>> work with people with disabilities, agencies, organizations and
>> vendors to
>> integrate assistive technology into their facilities and services to
>> meet
>> the needs of people with a broad range of disabilities, including
>> learning,
>> mobility, sensory and developmental disabilities. Library staff
>> should be
>> aware of how available technologies address disabilities and know how
>> to
>> assist all users with library technology.
>>
>> 6. Employment
>>
>> ALA must work with employers in the public and private sectors to
>> recruit
>> people with disabilities into the library profession, first into
>> library
>> schools and then into employment at all levels within the profession.
>>
>> Libraries must provide reasonable accommodations for qualified
>> individuals
>> with disabilities unless the library can show that the accommodations
>> would
>> impose an 'undue hardship' on its operations. Libraries must also
>> ensure
>> that their policies and procedures are consistent with the ADA and
>> other
>> laws.
>>
>> 7. Library Education, Training and Professional Development
>>
>> All graduate programs in library and information studies should
>> require
>> students to learn about accessibility issues, assistive technology,
>> the
>> needs of people with disabilities both as users and employees, and
>> laws
>> applicable to the rights of people with disabilities as they impact
>> library
>> services.
>>
>> Libraries should provide training opportunities for all library
>> employees
>> and volunteers in order to sensitize them to issues affecting people
>> with
>> disabilities and to teach effective techniques for providing services
>> for
>> users with disabilities and for working with colleagues with
>> disabilities.
>>
>> 8. ALA Conferences
>>
>> ALA conferences held at facilities that are 'public accommodations'
>> (e.g.
>> hotels and convention centers) must be accessible to participants with
>> disabilities.
>>
>> The association and its staff, members, exhibitors, and hospitality
>> industry agents must consider the needs of conference participants
>> with
>> disabilities in the selection, planning, and layout of all conference
>> facilities, especially meeting rooms and exhibit areas. The ALA
>> Conference
>> Services Office and division offices offering conferences must make
>> every
>> effort to provide accessible accommodations as requested by
>> individuals
>> with special needs or alternative accessible arrangements must be
>> made.
>>
>> Conference programs and meetings focusing on the needs of, services
>> to, or
>> of particular interest to people with disabilities should have
>> priority for
>> central meeting locations in the convention/conference center or
>> official
>> conference hotels.
>>
>> 9. ALA Publications and Communications
>>
>> All ALA publications, including books, journals, and correspondence,
>> must
>> be available in alternative formats including electronic text. The
>> ALA Web
>> site must conform to the currently accepted guidelines for
>> accessibility,
>> such as those issued by the World Wide Web Consortium." (See "Current
>> Reference File": Library Services for People with Disabilities Policy,
>> 2000?2001 CD #24)
>>
>>
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