ARLIS/NA 53rd Annual Conference

Ensuring that our work is accessible and inclusive is central to all types of libraries. Without a focus on accessibility, many patrons can be excluded from equitable participation in the community, whether in a classroom, a library, an archive, or a museum. Our conference theme this year is Together: Activating Community, and any focus on activating community must have at its core a commitment to addressing the needs of all members of that community, including disabled individuals.  

But, at the same time, because accessibility is such a broad topic, it can be difficult to know where to start and how to keep up with the latest developments, particularly with limited resources. The challenges around accessibility can be particularly difficult for art libraries as they work with visual materials and nontraditional library collections. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure how to maximize impact and create meaningful inclusion for patrons with a range of types of disabilities.

This panel will highlight accessibility projects being undertaken at a range of institutions with a focus on how we can all maximize the impact of our work in this area. Panelists will discuss how this work is integrated into library workflows and offer tips on bringing these ideas to other libraries. They will also discuss the ways that library workers can come together in community with one another to collaborate on improving accessibility in libraries. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and will leave with ideas that can be applied at their own institutions.