Welcome to Building an Inclusive Library. This resource is designed to promote the development of inclusive communities, where all people -- regardless of their level of ability or disability – have opportunities to participate in community life.

Libraries sit at the heart of their communities. Building an inclusive library is one of the “first steps” in addressing the diverse information needs of all members in the community. An inclusive library is a vital community resource. Enhancing the accessibility of your library helps build your community, increasing its capacity to meet the needs of all its citizens, including those with disabilities.

Every day, thousands of Albertans use their libraries for reading, learning, conducting research, and communicating with others. But many Albertans cannot, for a variety of reasons, access the information in their library. Some of these potential users have disabilities and are unable to access the resources. Others require special tools or alternative forms of library materials to allow them access to information. Still others are unaware of what a library can provide, particularly online materials, or are unable to use Internet-based communication and information resources.

In the pages that follow, you will learn how your library can be transformed to become an inclusive Community Information Centre. By examining the factors that encourage or enhance use of the library by the residents in your community, particularly those with disabilities, you will be able to determine how your library may be better able to meet the diverse information needs of the entire community.
 
Building an inclusive library takes time and resources, as well as energy, creativity, and patience. It doesn’t happen overnight. You may not be able to implement all the changes at once in your library. But even small changes can make a big difference, substantially enhancing accessibility for users with disabilities. Every library has its own unique needs and challenges. By working through this manual, you will begin a process of enhancing your library’s responsiveness to the entire community, including patrons with disabilities.

Acknowledgements

Building an Inclusive Library was developed through a grant from the Community Capacity Development Initiative by the Northeast Alberta Community Board for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. The Board gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Dr. Susan Moisey and Kathleen Anderson, the authors of this resource, as well as Christine Nelson from the Libraries Section, Alberta Community Development for advice and recommendations in the development of this resource.