| By Gale Staff |
Libraries have long championed providing the community with free, open access to knowledge. However, giving each individual the opportunity to fully engage with library resources, regardless of abilities, language, or learning style, remains an ongoing pursuit.
Of course, being mindful of the latest guidance—including the April 2024 ADA Title II Regulations—is an important place to start. For example, as part of the updated regulations, public entities must adhere to the new Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
However, to create a truly inclusive and welcoming experience, librarians must think beyond complying with accessibility standards.
At our November 2024 webinar, titled “Accessibility Partners: Building Inclusive Experiences in Libraries,” experts from ReadSpeaker, Perkins Access, Thorndike Press, and Gale shared practical recommendations for how academic and public libraries can navigate the complex landscape of accessibility standards, guidelines, and best practices. To help you support all users and foster a more inclusive library environment, we’ve distilled key insights from our panel.
As Geoff Freed, director of digital accessibility consulting at Perkins Access, says, “While the accessibility stakes may be going up in the future, [librarians are] a group of people who are certainly prepared to meet them.”
Digital Materials
Modern libraries are no longer confined to physical shelves but exist in digital spaces that patrons can access anytime, anywhere. But making these materials truly inclusive requires intentional effort—not just adopting accessibility features, but implementing them thoughtfully to meet the diverse needs of your community.
Text-to-Speech Tools
One of the most important digital accessibility tools is text-to-speech (TTS) software, such as offered by ReadSpeaker, one of Gale’s trusted partners.
Through Gale’s partnership with ReadSpeaker, libraries can empower their users to listen to content and read along with highlighted text. Users can also adjust reading speed and volume, and download MP3 files for offline listening.
This not only benefits patrons who require auditory learning options, but everyone who engages with library resources. That’s because TTS solutions support bimodal learning—reading while listening—which improves comprehension and retention for the entire community, regardless of ability.
Promote the service universally, not just as a “special service.” Normalizing these types of tools helps them become a valued part of the library’s broader approach to accessibility and inclusivity.
Digital Accessibility
To achieve digital accessibility, library websites must transcend basic compliance standards to create an authentically intuitive, barrier-free online experience for the entire community.
In addition to TTS, digital accessibility typically includes features like:
- Clear alternative text for images empowers individuals who cannot see visuals to understand their content and context.
- Keyboard navigability is a function that lets users who cannot use a mouse fully interact with your website using only a keyboard. This feature is especially important for those with mobility impairments or repetitive strain injuries, as they otherwise would not have truly equal access to library resources.
- Translation tools help libraries connect with multilingual communities by making websites and resources accessible in multiple languages.
- Color adjustment tools serve approximately one in twenty living with color blindness or partial color blindness (8% of men and 0.5% of women).
Print Materials
Despite the digital shift, many patrons still feel more comfortable working with physical resources. Thus, it’s just as important that libraries make print materials accessible in the form of large print and adapted books to support various sensory needs.
Large Print Books
Large print books make reading more accessible for library users of all ages by accommodating visual impairments, learning difficulties like dyslexia, and preferences for a format that reduces eye strain. These books support readers who face challenges with standard print and foster confidence and enjoyment for everyone—from reluctant young readers to older adults.
The Thomas Township Public Library near Saginaw, Michigan, raised awareness of its extensive large print collection by simply putting up posters encouraging patrons to try large print. The response was remarkable, demonstrating interest and demand across a broad audience.
Similarly, at O’Neill Middle School in Downers Grove, Illinois, large print books are among the most frequently checked-out items in the library—even surpassing graphic novels in popularity among younger readers. See circulation statistics on page 25 of the Project Tomorrow white paper. These efforts empower students to explore a wider range of format choices and discover what best suits their preferences and needs.
Adapted Books
Adapted books are specialized resources for individuals facing challenges with traditional print materials, such as nonverbal readers or those with particular cognitive or developmental needs. These books take simplified language and tactile elements like textures or buttons and pair them with visual supports to create a sensory-rich reading experience.
Courtney Walker, founder and principal consultant of Library For All, shares her passion for adapted books, explaining: “One of my dreams for accessibility of literature and libraries for the future is sensory versions of popular books . . . Sensory connections are game changers for so many readers. I think that will be the future of literature!”
Physical Space
Creating a warm, welcoming space shows individuals that the library is a place meant for everyone. However, these accommodations should apply across the entire patron-accessible area, from flexible seating arrangements that suit different needs to aisles that allow mobility devices to pass easily.
Flexible Seating
Flexible seating accommodates various physical needs and appeals to user preferences, providing a more comfortable, focused reading experience for all.
Libraries have many options for incorporating diverse seating arrangements, such as couches, floor pillows, bean bags, standing desks, etc. These adaptable environments accommodate individuals with mobility challenges and appeal to different learning styles, keeping visitors comfortable to sustain engagement and reduce fatigue during extended library visits.
Simple Signage
Clear, high-contrast signage is fundamental for helping your library community navigate the space at a glance, particularly those with visual impairments, non-English speakers, and patrons with color vision deficiencies.
For example, using black print on a white background provides strong contrast for visibility at a distance. Avoiding problematic color combinations—like red and green—ensures signage is accessible for individuals with color blindness. Libraries can also incorporate symbols into their signage to help ESL patrons and individuals with cognitive disabilities find their way.
Visual Aids
Simple tools to provide visual aid support, such as whiteboards and markers at service desks, facilitate communication for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing and those who prefer visual instructions.
Something as simple as a handheld whiteboard facilitates clear, immediate communication so patrons and staff can effectively convey information without relying solely on verbal interactions.
Collaborations and Partnerships
Building an inclusive library environment requires collaboration at every level—and an openness to feedback from members of your team and the community.
Encouraging Community Engagement
As Ginger Dewey, educational manager at ReadSpeaker, explains, accessibility is a continuous journey that must be informed by user feedback: “Just because it works right now doesn’t mean it’s going to work tomorrow.”
Keep a log that lets librarians jot down feedback from informal chats and observations of library users as they interact with resources. You can loop that into any additional information you gain through more formal methods like focus groups or surveys. It’s an excellent method for identifying patterns or obstacles that might go unnoticed.
Finding Funding
Library accessibility isn’t something that’s just “nice to have.” It’s an important signal to the community that public libraries are meant for everyone. Thankfully, a number of organizations exist that have designated grant funding that could be used to support inclusion and accessibility efforts in your library.
One is the American Library Association, which awarded $3.6 million for library accessibility projects in 2024 across 310 small and rural communities.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services also offers the Grants to States program, the largest source of federal funding for library services nationwide.
Meeting Your Patrons Where They Are
Overhauling your library to prioritize accessibility can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that change is an ongoing process—not an overnight transformation.
To help anyone feeling daunted by the journey, we’re leaving you with a few parting tips inspired by our webinar panelists:
- Geoff Freed shares that it’s “OK to take care of the easy things first . . . and then make a plan to work towards resolving the more difficult things.” Prioritize the most manageable steps to build momentum toward your larger goals.
- Gale’s Kristin Mallegg encourages you to contact publishers for their tools and the accessible instructions for using them. “Look for those easy wins by tapping the people who are providing your resources in your library. Don’t think you have to recreate it yourself.”
- Finally, Carrie Willis at Thorndike Press challenges librarians to be the “accessibility squeaky wheel,” keeping those efforts top of mind through regular staff training and discussions that keep enthusiasm high.
Work closely with your team to identify creative solutions and recognize the meaningful changes you’ve made along the way. Each incremental effort is one step closer to creating a space where everyone in your community feels welcome and empowered to engage with their library.
For more insights and inspiration, we encourage you to watch the full webinar, which is available on YouTube. You can also learn more about our accessibility policies, and how they embody our drive and commitment to inclusivity, reflected in our slogan, “Gale, here for everyone.”