Accessibility and Disability Services for Libraries: A Survey of Large, Research-Intensive Institutions

Abstract

As academic libraries prioritize accessibility for all individuals, they have carried out transformations of their physical and virtual spaces. For example, they have purchased new hardware, software, and furniture; adjusted websites for screen readers; modified handouts used in instruction; and advocated for change with vendors of leased and purchased content. Whether driven by campus mandates, state regulations, lawsuits, or more proactive motives, libraries have reviewed and improved the delivery of their content to better serve the needs of all users. Several surveys cover the disability and accessibility services available at libraries and how they have changed over time, but few studies examine who within the library provides support to users and how changes in campus and state requirements impact the delivery of these services. This article summarizes the results of a survey of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions in October 2020 related to what services the library provides, whether they have changed due to campus or state requirements, which positions within libraries provide support, and what the impetus was for offering services. The authors also discuss implications for scalable support of disability and accessibility services at university libraries.A ccording to the World Health Organization, over 15 percent of the world's population have some form of disability, 1 a number that is increasing. In the United States, 26 percent of the population have disabilities, according to the infographic "Disability Impacts All of Us" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2 There are four general categories of disabilities-visual, aural, neurological, and physical-each with its own needs for library services and support.Libraries' approach to disability and accessibility services continues to evolve. Universities have compliance requirements for their employees mandated by federal and state laws, but accessibility services for library patrons tend to be driven by local contexts and individual library priorities. Campus requirements for disability and accessibility services are changing with the focus on equity, sometimes due to lawsuits or to prevent legal action. Libraries have adjusted digital products, spaces, and services to better serve patrons with accessibility or disability needs. To hit this moving target, it is important to understand the local situation as well as what individual libraries can control or have capacity to change. Areas outside the immediate jurisdiction of a library may advocate for change by engaging with consortia or with database vendors to provide products and services that meet users' needs.Libraries aim to provide services for people of all abilities and strive to make physical and virtual spaces accessible to all. This concern is evidenced by the creation of groups dedicated to accessibility issues, such as the

LibGuides as Outreach

“…Accommodations are also key toward discussions of disability services in libraries. Longmeier and Foster (2022) found in their survey of research libraries that the most common accessibility services offered by libraries are Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice LibGuides as Outreach palrap.org related to scanning and optical character recognition (OCR) (p. 832). One of our first goals in improving the accessibility of our library was advocating for the installation of an automatic door opener on the restroom doors, when we had previously only had push-button access to the main door of the building.…”