The Trinity Inclusive Library
Strategy
Michelle Garvey
Jessie Kurtz
Include@tcd.ie,
jessie.kurtz@tcd.ie
http://www.tcd.ie/CAPSL/TIC/projects/inclusive-libraries/
The scene from 2002:
- Library funded via Disability Services for
one position – Library Liaison Officer,
- Staff at counters call Library Liaison
Officer to deal with service,
- Service is seen as excellent – as it’s
personal, however it is limited to the
availability of the Library Liaison Officer
The changing environment:
-
Numbers of students registered with the
Disability Service is increasing,
-
Library Liaison Officer can’t cope with the
demand on the service,
-
Service counters can’t meet demand,
-
College Disability Service audited – so Library
is now scheduled for external review.
The path to change:
- External review held summer 2009,
- Recommendations & Library’s Implementation
plan taken to Library Committee,
- Funding for full-time position to facilitate the
recommendations,
- Michelle Garvey (TIC coordinator) appointed
to role.
Recommendations included:
(1) Change management post,
(2) Buildings plan with priorities for accessible
works,
(3) Policy/procedure for acquisition of alternate
formats,
(4) Inclusivity awareness training for staff,
(5) Mechanism to provide for continuous
review and revision of service policies and
practices.
How did we make it happen?
- Oversight Steering Group (reps from across
the Library) – via regular meetings providing
on-going input
- Disability Service Director – providing
funding and support
- Trinity Inclusive Officer – providing impetus,
persistence and drive
- With a dash of:
Communication; Commitment; Willingness
How do we keep it going?
Sustainability will be via:
- On-going liaison between the Library & the
Disability Service,
- A sitting joint-committee to monitor the
service,
- Watching brief.
What is TIL?
Collaborative strategy between the Trinity
College Library and Disability Service,
Aimed to enhance the inclusive nature of
library services
Move away from add-on services towards a
model where supports are embedded into the
mainstream service.
Why TIL?
Arose following Service Review.
Rise in students with registered disabilities
Common difficulties faced by
readers with disabilities included:
•
•
•
•
•
•
An inaccessible physical environment,
Inaccessible materials,
Side effects of illnesses and of medication,
Difficulties with self-management,
Communication difficulties,
Inaccessible training events.
Objectives of TIL:
• Physical Environment: Improve physical
access,
• Information resources: Enhance access to n
resources and agree a model for provision of
information in alternative format,
• Staff training: Develop an inclusivity
awareness programme,
• Library Policy: Develop a clear service policy
to enhance inclusion.
Administration:
• Implementation oversight committee set up.
• Included representatives from the main
Library buildings / areas of the library, and
the Disability Service.
Physical Environment
Physical Access.
Disability Act 2005 – all buildings to be
accessible by 2015
ATIC Spaces.
3 “Assistive Technology Information Centres”
(ATIC).
•
•
•
•
computers with assistive software,
Printer
low distraction study spaces,
Assistive Technology Officer,
Information Resources.
Accessible Information.
Support the Implementation of the Accessible
Information Policy.
Annual Everyday Accessibility Workshop
More information from our online resources:
http://www.tcd.ie/CAPSL/TIC/accessible-info/
Library Web Resources:
Disabled reader webpage:
http://www.tcd.ie/Library/using-library/disabilities.php
Staff pages:
http://www.tcd.ie/CAPSL/TIC/projects/inclusivelibraries/index.php
Inclusive Training Guidelines:
http://www.tcd.ie/CAPSL/TIC/
projects/inclusive-libraries/training.php
AV Materials:
Alternative Formatting.
• Some readers cannot access print materials
and need resources in an alternative format.
• Audio access (mostly text-to-speech software),
large print, or Braille.
• TCD either obtains an alternative format for this
student or creates one from a physical copy.
• Alternative formatting Flow Chart to be piloted.
Alt Formatting Difficulties.
Obstacles to the effective provision of
alternatively formatted resources include:
• late receipt of reading lists,
• difficulties acquiring machine readable formats
(MRFs) for editing,
• lack of awareness of alternative formatting
needs amongst publishers,
• difficulties finding time and monetary
resources to alternatively format from physical
copies.
Reading list Strategies.
Good Practice Guidelines:
http://www.tcd.ie/CAPSL/TIC/accessible-info/studentinfo/reading-lists.php
AV resources
Library Access to VLE
Publishers Strategies.
Copyright Review:
• Publishers are given an anticipatory duty to
retain intermediate electronic versions of
resources that can be supplied in a timely
manner when requested for the purpose of
creating an accessible resource for a person
with a disability who is the owner or lawful user
of a work.
• The intermediate electronic documents follow
an agreed standard to ensure accessibility.
Staff Training.
Workshops and Presentations.
• Everyday Accessibility,
• Disability Service Supports in the Library,
• Customer Care Course,
Library Policy and Process.
Future Planning: Policy and
Processes.
• Reader Charter
• Code of Practice and Guidelines
• TIL Monitoring Committee.
• Staff CPD and Training
THANK YOU.
include@tcd.ie
Jessie.kurtz@tcd.ie