A thematic analysis of library association policies on services to persons with disabilities

Abstract

PurposeLibrary association policies and guidelines are important to study because they reflect consensus values of the profession. As such, they can shape the association, itself, and set the tone for the values of its individual members in their professional practice. From the titles alone, these documents proclaim themselves to be guides for the development of individual library policy. Additionally, as library and information science (LIS) graduate education programs are accredited by national associations, LIS schools pay attention to association policies and guidelines to help shape professional and continuing education. In these ways, they have a role in shaping professional ideology around a topic. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe services to persons with disabilities policies from three national-level LIS organizations were analyzed through a thematic analysis.FindingsThe guidelines speak to a shared understanding of disability and accessibility around the themes of library staff, library policies and library resources and services. While not surprising, additional themes around disability context and legislation show a shared understanding of accessibility that is much broader than what the legislation requires.Originality/valueAn analysis of guidelines on services to persons with disabilities from the American Library Association (ALA), Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA) is of interest because of the ways these organizations intersect. The ALA and ALIA have reciprocal agreements so that students in LIS education programs are recognized as equivalents. Second, the ALA accredits library education programs in Canada. Given these intersecting relationships, the guidelines-shared notions of accessibility become of high interest.

What are the options for library and information studies education reform in addressing racial inequity in the library profession in the UK?

“…In a wider setting, LIS education being informed by professional association policy (Hill, 2021), Blackburn (2015) recommends the inclusion of cultural competence as a key component of professional guidelines, LIS curriculum and practice, thus building on the ‘virtuous circle’ (Jaeger and Franklin, 2017; Jaeger et al, 2015) which fosters inclusion throughout the professional development and practice cycle. This is also highlighted by Caidi and Dali (2015) who recommend a holistic approach whereby LIS schools should consider the influence of their marketing and student recruitment on developing more diverse culture.…”

“…The virtuous circle once again appears: diverse populations need diverse librarians (Bonnet and McAlexander, 2012); diverse librarians need to offer diverse services and programmes (Cruz, 2019), diverse librarians need to be attracted to and developed within visibly culturally competent programmes (Lilley and Paringatai, 2014; Roy, 2017; Villagran and Hawamdeh, 2020; White, 2017) and they need to be taught by diverse faculty, who once were students. The support and commitment of the professional associations as agents of standards evaluation is paramount (Hill, 2021). Specialist groups such as the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), whose competences strongly focus on diversity and inclusion (ALSC, 2020), contribute to ‘strengthen the social justice fabric of the profession’ (Moreillon, 2015: 212).…”

“…CILIP -The professional association. The voice of the professional association is important here as it plays an important role in 'shaping professional ideology around a topic' (Hill, 2021(Hill, : 1379. In the UK, CILIP's BAME Network was established in 2019, building on their Libraries, Information and Knowledge Change Lives position paper along with their Disability, LGBTQ+ and Women's Networks (CILIP, 2019).…”

Assistive Support Through Technologies for Persons with Disabilities in Libraries

“…In the paper of Al, Andrade Blanco & Chiranov (2015) 13 Libraries for all projects and the studies brought within the project scope are performed and discussed on the role of libraries as knowledge environments, and they found that local libraries have the potential to be used as knowledge environments. The study of Hill (2021) 14 found that the guidelines provide a perception of inefficiency and convenience in library personnel, library administration, and library support and services issues. While this is not unexpected, the circumstances of the incapacity and other law considerations reflect a shared notion of admission that goes deeper than what the law demands.…”