Dear ALA Council Colleagues,
I am on an IMLS Steering Committee that has been tasked with creating a Reading for accessibility and Inclusion Toolkit, and we are at the point where it has been published in EPUB as a pilot, and we are looking for folks to read through it and provide feedback. Please see the information below and feel free to take our survey after you have downloaded and read through it. It is geared primarily for public and academic library staff but all librarians and library workers are welcome. Thank you. – Mike
To the library community:
Last year, you thoughtfully completed a benchmarking survey for our IMLS project, "Reading for Accessibility and Inclusion." The purpose of the survey was to gather data on the breadth and depth of knowledge that exists in the library community for serving users who are print disabled. The survey results showed that library staff both needed and were eager to have more information to better understand what being print disabled means, barriers that impact the ability of these users to read traditional print materials and the tools they can use for effective reading. To that end, our partner Benetech, with input from the Ferguson Library and a nine-member steering committee, compiled a training module for library staff to increase their knowledge and skills for serving this community of readers.
To gauge its effectiveness, we are asking you to read through the training module and provide your feedback on what works and what could be better. The module and an introduction on "Getting Started" can be found here:
https://libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/dld/ReadingForAccessibility
When you have completed the training module pilot, please provide your feedback by filling out this survey:
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7171305/Accessibility-Training-Module-for-Librarians-Serving-Print-Disabled-Patrons
For the first 50 people who respond, when we receive your completed survey, we will send you a $25 American Express e-gift card,. But please take the survey regardless of the gift cards!
Thank you for your time to help us with this important work! Our project team appreciates your participation in this pilot.
Susan
Susan LaPerla
Director of Public Services
The Ferguson Library
One Public Library Plaza
Stamford, CT 06904
slaperla@fergusonlibrary.org
203-351-8201
Mike L. Marlin
Director, California Braille and Talking Book Library
Sacramento, CA
ALA Councilor at Large
Work Email: mike.marlin@library.ca.gov
Tel:(916) 603-7209
Personal Email: mmarlin33.3@gmail.com
Mobile: (916) 243-9778