Registration is now open for “Improving Library Services for People with Disabilities”, a new online course offered by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA).
Providing library services to differently-abled library users is a role filled by all levels of library staff. From the part-time aide checking out library materials to the library director determining policies, staff skills and attitudes are crucial for a satisfactory library experience.
During this four-week course, participants will:
- Identify differently-abled library users who face both visible and invisible challenges when it comes to accessign the library.
- Review the evolution of attitudes, laws and practices affecting services to people with disabilities.
- Learn about appropriate etiquette, alternative communication techniques and people-first language that support successful services to special populations
- Discover assistive technology already available at your library.
- Discuss the rules for applying policies and procedures of your library.
- Ultimately set one personal goal for improving services, and identify one organizational change that can be implemented to improve services at your library for people with disabilities.
The course will begin Monday, Oct. 17 and finish on Friday, Nov. 11. One live online session using the FlashChat feature of Moodle, the online course management system, will take place Thursday, Oct. 27 from 1:00-2:00p.m. Central Time. The remainder of the course is asynchronous—students login throughout the week to complete assignments from the instructor. Online and faxed registration will close on Thursday, Oct. 13 or when the class reaches maximum capacity.
Interested participants can register online now, register via fax or mail, or learn more about the course at the ASCLA website. Registration fees start at $130 for ASCLA members. Discounted group registration rates for two or more registrants from the same library, library system or network are available—download the group registration form. Contact ALA’s Membership and Customer Service Team with any questions about registration for this course at registration@ala.org or (800) 545-2433, option 5.
“Improving Library Services for People with Disabilities” is taught by Kate Todd, who has worked as a children’s librarian for The New York Public Library and as emerging technologies librarian for Manhattanville College. At Manhattanville College, she taught “Technology for Special Education” in the graduate school of education. She has also taught several online courses for the Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC), including “Children with Disabilities in the Library”—this new ASCLA course is the general staff counterpart to that course.
“Improving Library Services “ is presented by ASCLA, the home within ALA for librarians serving special populations. Among ASCLA’s many interest groups are the Library Services to People with Visual or Physical Disabilities that Prevent Them from Reading Standard Print Interest Group; the Library Services to the Incarcerated and Detained Interest Group; and the Universal Access Interest Group. Learn more about ASCLA’s interest groups. ASCLA’s membership is one of the most diverse within ALA, and also serves librarians and staff from state agencies, specialized libraries and multi-type cooperatives, and independent librarians and library consultants. Not an ASCLA member, but interested in discounted registration rates on ASCLA professional development offerings? Join, renew or add ASCLA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership.