Individuals with disabilities are an important part of the communities our libraries serve. In this course, you will learn how to make your library accessible for patrons with disabilities and how to foster an inclusive community that is welcoming and engaging for these patrons. Through a combination of discussions, assignments, and projects that are tailored to the needs of your library, you will not only expand your understanding of accessibility and inclusion but will also develop a collection of tools that you can implement at your library.
This course is designed for anyone who is interested in making their library more inclusive for patrons with disabilities and will be particularly relevant for library managers and public services staff.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course the participant will be able to:
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Conduct successful outreach to patrons with disabilities, including communicating effectively with individuals with disabilities and developing accessible outreach materials.
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Develop training documents and best practices/policies for staff at their libraries to ensure consistently high-quality service for patrons with disabilities.
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Evaluate the accessibility of existing spaces and services and make improvements with low or no budget.
Who Should Attend
This course will be useful and relevant for all library staff interested in improving accessibility and fostering inclusion of patrons with disabilities. It will be particularly relevant to library managers and public services staff at all types of libraries, including public, academic, government, and specialized libraries.
Instructor
Carli Spina is the Head Librarian of Assessment and Outreach at the Boston College Libraries. She holds a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, an MLIS from Simmons GSLIS, and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has served as the chair LITA's Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the leaders of ASCLA's Library Services to Persons with Print Disabilities Interest Group, as well as serving as a coordinator for services to patrons with disabilities at a library. She frequently presents, teaches, and writes about accessibility, inclusion, Universal Design, user experience, copyright, and technology in libraries.
Registration
Cost
- $130 for ASGCLA members
- $175 for ALA members
- $210 for non-ALA members
- $100 for student members and retired members
How to Register
- Online
- By Fax: download, complete, and fax form (PDF format) to (312) 280-1538
- By Mail, download, complete and mail form (PDF Format) to American Library Association, ATTN: MACS/Online CE Registration, 50 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611
Tech Requirements
ALA uses Moodle for all online educational courses. It is hosted at http://ecourses.ala.org. Learn more about Moodle at www.moodle.org
All content for this course will be provided by the instructor. No textbook required
The Moodle login instructions will be sent the Friday before the start date. The course site will remain open one week after the end date for students to complete any assignments.
Credits
Continuing Education Credit-A certificate of completion will be sent to each participant upon successful completion of each course
Although the courses are not CEU-certified, many licensing boads will accept them for credit. Requirements vary by state and school districts regarding certification and continuing education credits. The decision to grant CEU credits remains entirely up to your state or school district. If you are in need of credits, check with your state and/or school district before enrolling to determine eligibility. Some states will review your certificate of completion and course description to determine eligibility.
Contact
Questions about registration should be directed to registration@ala.org. Technical questions about the webinar should be directed to Ninah Moore at nmoore@ala.org
Thank you and we look forward to your participation!