The Trinity Inclusive Library
Strategy
Declan Treanor
http://www.tcd.ie/CAPSL/TIC/projects/inclusive-libraries/
The scene from 2002:
- Library funded via Disability Services
for one position
- Staff at counters call this staff member
to deal with service
- Service is seen as excellent – as it’s
personal, however it isn’t available when
staff member is away
The changing environment:
- Numbers of students registered with
the Disability Service is increasing
- Single staff member can’t cope with
demand
- Service counters not meeting needs
- College Disability Service audited – so
Library up for external review
The path to change:
- External review held summer 2009
- Recommendations & Library’s
Implementation plan taken to Library
Committee
- Funding identified for a full-time position
to facilitate the recommendations
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) Ongoing mechanism to provide for
continuous review and revision of service
policies and practices
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?
Rise in students with registered disabilities
Common difficulties faced by
readers with disabilities included:
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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:
An Inclusive Library Environment
• 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.
Physical Environment
Physical Access.
Disability Act 2005 – all buildings to be
accessible by 2015
ATIC Spaces.
3 “Assistive Technology Information Centres”
(ATIC).
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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.