Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Developing a Library Accessibility Plan: A Practical Guide for Librarians: 66

Developing a Library Accessibility Plan: A Practical Guide for Librarians provides library professionals with the knowledge, tools and templates, and practical examples necessary for developing a tailored and comprehensive accessibility plan for their institution. Part One provides foundational knowledge about disability experiences in libraries, including an overview of existing legislation and a breakdown of the disability community in the United States. This part also names and defines the impact of different accessibility barriers within online, physical, and instructional settings for different populations. Part Two outlines the initial stages of a developing a comprehensive plan for resolving accessibility issues. These chapters explore how to conduct an environmental scan of existing challenges, strategies for identifying potential partners in the resolution of these problems, and how to prioritize accessibility initiatives and projects. Part Three provides several practical, real life examples of projects and initiatives drawn from the author's professional experiences. These case studies offer a summary of each accessibility project along the corresponding impact, finished by an analysis of "lessons learned" from the experience. A copy of all tools, templates, and other planning documents are available in the chapter itself. The book will help readers understand how to inventory, prioritize, plan, implement, and assess a comprehensive improvement plan for electronic, physical, and instructional and/or programming-related accessibility issues within their library. Review Librarians have a professional and legal obligation to ensure that library collections, buildings, programs, and services are accessible to patrons with disabilities. Many of these patrons require specific accommodations to use libraries effectively. The latest volume in the Practical Guides for Librarians series instructs librarians in planning, implementing, and assessing a customized accessibility plan. Marrall provides an overview of disability legislation and introduces readers to the major categories of disability and the adaptive techniques and technologies used to improve accessibility. Readers will learn how to assess barriers related to entrances, floor plans, electronic resources, programming, outreach, and more, as well as how to devise an accessibility plan to prioritize and then eradicate barriers. Marrall offers tools to track and evaluate results efficiently and explains how to gain the support of community and institutional partners and staff to remove barriers. The guide concludes with case studies describing how other libraries have approached accessibility issues. Libraries with limited staff and funds may have difficulty incorporating many of the suggestions without considerable assistance from community partners, but larger libraries will find a practical map for improving accessibility.--Library Journal Libraries looking to develop accessibility plans will benefit from this guide, which contains foundational information about library accessibility and many practical resources, tips and tools to help advance and improve accessibility. Kudos to Rebecca Marrall for authoring a much-needed text on accessibility in the practical guides for librarians series.--Heidi M. Schroeder, Accessibility Coordinator, Michigan State University Libraries Marrall provides a comprehensive guide for understanding, improving, and advocating for greater accessibility in libraries, which can be a complex and overwhelming undertaking at times. The book offers an overview of the various aspects of accessibility in libraries, both electronic and physical, and presents readers with tips and strategies for implementing a library accessibility plan that centers people with disabilities in the process.--Lauren Kehoe, Accessibility and Accommodations Librarian, NYU Libraries This book is a helpful resource for those who know they have t