It Starts at the Top: Leadership and Management in an Accessible and Inclusive Library Nancy Bolt Nancy Bolt & Associates Denver, Colorado USA nancybolt@earthlink.net
The essence of leadership is the communication of commitment. Charlie Robinson, Director Emeritus Baltimore County Public Library, USA
Caveats • What is a library leader? (Director, Leadership Team, Managers) • Accessibility AND inclusion • Opinion and research • LSN Checklist on Accessibility and Inclusion
Primary Message: Library Leaders Should.. • Communicate that all people, including people with disabilities, have value and are respected and openly welcomed. • Be explicit and specific about accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. • All Communications should send the message that accessibility and inclusion are part of the vision, mission, values, and operation of the library.
Primary Message • Accessibility and inclusion should be part of all policies, budgets, staffing, and planning. • Give staff the skills the need to deliver what you want to happen • Input is welcome from staff and library users and issues will be addressed. • Walk the Talk, Model the desired attitude and behavior.
Scope of Disabilities Worldwide • WHO says 15% but limited definition • Poverty increases challenges of people with disabilities • CDC in US estimate 25% with broader definition • EU estimate for Croatia estimate 33.5% • Implications for library leaders
Human Rights: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The purpose of the present Convention is to:
promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. Endorsed by Croatia in 2007 Not yet endorsed by the United States
human
Role of Libraries in Implementing CRPD, Article 9 on accessibility
• Support person with disabilities to ensure their access to information. • Promote and support access to new information and communications technologies. • Assist in the design of new technologies to be available to persons with disabilities.
Legal Rights • Lots of data on number of countries that prohibit discrimination – most don’t agree. • Many countries have constitutional provisions against discrimination, others have laws, some general and some specific. • 177 countries have signed the CRPD. • Implement the letter or the spirit of the law?
Change in Perspective • From: The individuals disability is the problem • To: The library creates barriers to equal access • What are special needs?
Leadership Roles of Library Leaders • Nothing about us without us. • Form partnerships with representatives of disability organizations and disability rights groups. • Take the lead in establishing a relationship – empower staff to commit the library’s resources. • Seek their support for libraries.
Leadership Roles • Mission and values – insist on inclusion of the public in strategic planning and annual plans. • Library policies – ask staff to review all policies for possible bias, get input from disability partners. • Library priorities – show commitment by including accessibility and inclusion in setting library priorities in budget, staffing, and operation. • Universal design – use universal design principles in facility, product and service design.
Staff Training • Assess possible bias in staff • Provide staff training on different disabilities • Involve people with disabilities in training
Hiring Staff with Disabilities • Review hiring policies and job descriptions – focus on what, not how • Social Model of Leadership – living with a disability provides problem solving skills and acceptance of challenges • Integrate staff through training, leadership development, role models, and peer relationships • Establish an inclusion coordinator or team
Role of Library Association • Model an accessible conference • Choose an accessible venue • Include accessibility information conference website • Add content about accessibility and inclusion; train speakers • Include accessibility in conference evaluation
COVID 19 and Disabilities • Negative impact • More challenges to face for every disability • Physical, cognitive, behavioral • Increased isolation
• Positive impact • • • •
Technology more available Not have to travel Captioning increased Targeted online programs
Potential Work Opportunities • Increase in people working at home • No need to travel • Applications and interviews online • Focus on work and not disability
New Guidelines Coming in 2022 • LSN is publishing Everyone Is Welcome at the Library: A Checklist and Best Practices for Inclusive and Accessible Library Services. • Covers Human rights Universal design Assistive technology Leadership and management Marrakesh treaty Planning events Physical Access Serving people with dyslexia Children and teens Students of all ages Visual and hearing disabilities Persons with Alzheimer or dementia Mental illness Cognitive disabilities Nursing homes and home bound
Conclusion
Nancy Bolt Nancy Bolt & Associates Denver, Colorado nancybolt@earthlink.net www.nancybolt.com Resources available in conference paper