I have often thought that I have been fortunate to meet a lot of great people during my time in library school and since then in the working world. While I have thanked many of them in writing and in person, I wanted to reflect on how the combination of people and their support has gotten me to where I am in my professional life. Continue reading “A Letter of Thanks”
Author: Cynthia Ng
Accessibility June Meetup (Vancouver) Notes
Notes from the June Accessibility Meetup presentations. Continue reading “Accessibility June Meetup (Vancouver) Notes”
BCLA Hot Topic: Notes from Privacy Matters
Apologies for any typos and the lack of the details I usually have. Notes were blogged on my tiny (3.5″) phone screen. Corrections and links will be added if I can find them or someone reports them to me. Continue reading “BCLA Hot Topic: Notes from Privacy Matters”
BCLA Pre-Conference Notes: Why Accessible Library Service Matters in Public Libraries
Disability Awareness Training for Library Staff Summary
Margarete Wiedemann, North Vancouver City Public Library
- last Canadian census: 1 in 7 Canadians live with a disability
- public libraries are generally accessible to a degree
- survey findings: what is helpful: online catalogue, home delivery, plain language,
- barriers: physical envionrment, time on computer, standing in line, crowded seating, cognitive demands, asking for help and feeling like taking too much time, confusing signage, patronize/impatient/insensitive staff
- solutions to barriers example: baskets with wheels, walkers for in-library use
- some of the most difficult barriers with disabilities is people’s attitudes: need to think about what you say and write; person first language
- Social-Ecological Model of Disability: disability is a difference, arises from interactions between individual and society, and remedy is a change in interactions and context
- paradigm shift to full citizens with human rights, integrated, included, partipants.
- communication tips: speak directly and clearly, make eye contact at eye level, show respect and patience, show and tell or walk and talk, ask for help if you are having difficulty understanding
- universal design: recognize that there is a large diversity, and changes that benefit all users; fix the environment (not the individual)
- universal design will cover 80+% of users, and cover the rest using inclusive design and individual accommodations
- library staff can make a difference
- just make the connetiion and offer what you have
- an inclusive library begins with you
survey results: AIG section of the BCLA website
NNELS
- print disability: anyone that cannot read a book in “traditional” print format is considered print disabled
- tour of the website
- notes on formats: DAISY have MP3 inside of them, common format, but not one everyone is familiar with
- resources: nnels.ca/libraries
- possible engagement: books for student that are non-curriculum material
- collections highlight awards and other collections including digitized InterLINK reels of BC audiobooks, Truth and Reconciliation (which is public domain and downloadable by anyone)
Discussions
- devices: bone induction earphones, raspberry pi, slate and stylus, mp3 audio
- copyright act allows format shifting for print disabled patrons regardless of copyright of the original version
Mike Edwards – Dyslexic Reader
- made several attempts at universities
- fear of feeling stupid, etc.
- post secondary requires psychological examination: something that you had to prove, that you’re disabled
- what works: have CNIB worker who keeps feeding books on CD
- accommodations: colour codes text, TextAloud
- opportunity for outreach: prisons, large percentage of dyslexics
Imagine Living Without Books Part 2: Connecting Print Disabled Readers
In part 1, I asked readers to think about what it would be like to imagine living with access to only a very small selection of books, and provided some additional context for Canada. If you haven’t already, please read Imagine Living Without Books Part 1 as the two parts are meant to be read as one post. Continue reading “Imagine Living Without Books Part 2: Connecting Print Disabled Readers”