In 2000, the Springfield Library applied for and received funding to better serve patrons with disabilities. A survey of patrons with disabilities revealed that there were three major barriers to access; a lack of assistive technology (AT) and accompanying well-developed signage, instructions, and staff knowledge; insufficient marketing of access resources and services to people with disabilities; and a need for improved staff sensitivity and communications skills.
This guide mainly focuses on the first barrier: a lack of AT and a lack of staff training regarding the use of AT. In conjunction with training, this guide will enable staff to quickly refer to access barriers and concomitant remediation strategies by category of disability. In addition, this guide provides quick references to the assistive technology available in the library, and names and phone extensions of staff best able to provide help with specific pieces of software and hardware.
The purpose of this guide is to provide staff with the necessary information to facilitate independent access of patrons to the resources in the library and to provide guidance to staff on how to assist patrons in situations where independent access is not possible, efficient, or requested.
Springfield
Library
http://www.springfieldlibrary.org
220 State Street
Springfield MA 01103
413-263-6828
This page last updated: 2/28/02