A Case Study in Practice: Providing Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities at the College of Staten Island Library

Abstract

Purpose

This chapter aims to present best practices in providing inclusive resources and services offered to persons with disabilities at a public university library, in light of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Methodology/approach

A review of past practices and future considerations are presented from the perspective of providing both effective services and acquiring accessible resources.

Findings

Effective practices, at a college library serving individuals with disabilities, need to be a consistent part of daily practices and policies. Due to changing populations of students with disabilities, library outreach to the local disability office and communication to library professionals is essential. Practices for acquiring, assessing, and purchasing library resources require conformity to legal standards in order to be an “accessible” library.

Practical implications

Success for college students with disabilities also requires an institutional and system-wide university commitment to accessibility. As a case study in practice, the College of Staten Island (CSI) Library actively assesses accessibility at their library, which can be relevant to other academic libraries.

Originality/value

Limited amount of studies document the application of compliance with the ADA to daily library acquisition practices. Initiatives are also presented that can lead to future procurement guidelines at the CSI and similar organizations.

Citation

Falloon, K. (2015), "A Case Study in Practice: Providing Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities at the College of Staten Island Library", Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and the Inclusive Future of Libraries (Advances in Librarianship, Vol. 40), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 89-107. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0065-283020150000040014