Library and Information Science Commons^™

Understanding The Unseen: Invisible Disabilities In The Workplace, Ann Abney, Veronica Denison, Chris Tanguay, Michelle Ganz

Faculty and Staff Publications

Approximately 61 million (or 1 in 4) adults in the United States have a disability. Despite this prevalence, many people cannot name a coworker who is disabled, possibly due to the number of people who have invisible disabilities. This lack of understanding of both causes and prevalence can cause both the disabled and their supervisors or managers to be unaware of how to address a disabled person’s needs. In this article, the authors shed light on how to improve the professional environment for disabled archivists, staff, and patrons. People without disabilities or those with unrealized disabilities can all benefit when …

Libraries As Pluralistic Public Spheres: Acknowledging Conflict To Promote Democratic Discourse, Lisa Engström

New Librarianship Symposia Series: Fall 2021

In library policies and library and information studies Habermas concept of public sphere is often used to highlight the public library as a place promoting democracy and inclusion by enabling interpersonal meetings between people with different lifestyles and background. Libraries are then conceived as accessible to all bridging social, economic, and cultural gaps, and promoting a perception of shared values between users (Aabø et al. 2010). I argue that vulnerable and excluded groups thereby may be hindered to form their own identity and to make their voices heard.

Accessibility and participation are core concepts when analysing libraries democratic potential. However, …

Librarians, Outreach And Evaluation: Edia In A Large Urban Public Library, Mariella Colon

New Librarianship Symposia Series: Fall 2021

Although we seek to be more universal in our offerings, libraries DEIA work still centers on simply event programming and collection development.

To talk about meaningful DEIA work today however is acknowledging that true advancement goes beyond events and artifacts. We must evolve this approach to where DEIA values drive our professional development through (1) critical librarianship (2) outreach and (3) responsive evaluation.

The framework for DEIA at a large urban library has three pillars of focus. The first is our librarians. It is important that we acknowledge the work that already exists because to start to review DEIA as …

Everyone, Everywhere, Every Time, Clayton A. Copeland Phd

Faculty Publications

The University of South Carolina’s Knowledge School has a commitment. The commitment: Everyone. Everywhere. Every time. The “Knowledge School” is about empowerment. It is about accessing abilities in everyone. It is about using abilities to ensure knowledge creation. And it is about using abilities to ensure equity. This chapter defines a philosophy rooted in tenets of universal access and design. It then highlights several initiatives in teaching, research, and service that put the philosophy into action.

Factors Influencing Intention To Introduce Accessibility In Makerspace Planning And Implementation, Heather Moorefield-Lang, Ana Dubnjakovic

Faculty and Staff Publications

Makerspaces continue to grow in popularity in public, academic, and school libraries. As makerspaces are included in library services, accessibility for all users is important. What motivates a school librarian to implement a makerspace accessible to all learners? Are they more likely to invest in accessibility if provided the necessary resources? In this study, researchers discuss which Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen 1985) variables significantly predict school librarians’ intentions to implement accessible makerspaces. Researchers also delve into how attitude towards accessibility in makerspaces influence the intention to implement accessible makerspace. Findings indicate identifying perceived behavior control is the principal predictor …

Universal Design Creates Equity And Inclusion: Moving From Theory To Practice, Clayton A. Copeland Phd, Brady Cross, Kim Thompson

South Carolina Libraries

Universal design focuses on small changes that can be made to benefit everyone. Universal design principles can be applied to both physical and virtual environments and help provide universal access to technology and information. This paper provides a case study of the design of a library computer kiosk in an academic library, using principles of universal design to create a universally accessible workstation. The paper provides an overview of features included in the workstation, images of the workstation, and includes discussion of additional considerations and lessons learned from the design experience.

Accessibility: Just Do It!, Savannah Gignac, Caroline Smith

South Carolina Libraries

In the spring of 2019, The South Carolina State Library and Charleston County Public Library each formed an Accessibility Team to identify and begin addressing accessibility issues in their libraries. Volunteers from diverse roles and departments participate in the teams so that together they can have a deeper impact. The teams have started making improvements and have established a process to bring positive change to their organizations.