An Accessible Library – how does it work? Kirsi Ylänne, Celia Library November 12, 2015

What is an accessible library? Library for All, a joint project between Celia and public libraries Finnish Accessibility Guidelines for Public Libraries (WIP) An accessible library

IFLA Professional Report No. 89, 2005 Access to libraries for persons with disabilities – CHECKLIST – Physical access – Media formats – Service and communication (in Finnish Esteetön kirjasto) An accessible library?

Emphasis on physical accessibility (esteettömyys) – information about wheelchair access, lifts, toilets, parking lots, etc. Less (or no) information about accessible services or materials and collections Accessibility information on websites of public libraries

Stivi-suositus, Saavutettava kirjasto saavutettava-kirjasto Turku University Library (a good example) Provides information about physical access and accessible services An accessibility recommendation for university libraries

There simply is too little knowledge about accessibility in public libraries No compulsory legislation Accessibility is not seen as important for a public library’s customers. – There are special libraries for print disabled and deaf persons Why are not Finnish library services yet accessible?

Non-Discrimination Act 2014 Library Act is being drafted (2017) European Accessibility Act (Dec 2015) – European Directive on web accessibility ??? Legislation

Celia Library’s joint project with public libraries in Finland Aims to include talking books produced by Celia in the services and collections of public libraries Started in 2013, ends in 2015 Continues as an established service Library for All Project

Celia Library itself reaches only a small percentage of potential users of talking books. According to PIAAC study 2012, 11 % of Finnish adult population (ages between 15 and 65) are poor readers – 370,000 people Library for All Project

Amount of audio books in the libraries is small. Celia’s collection of talking books is over 35,000 titles. Persons with print disability are entitled to read talking books produced by Celia Section 17 of Finnish copyright law Library for All Project

Information about the project kirjastoille/kirjasto-kaikille/ Final seminar November 13, Library for All Project

A spin-off from Library for All Project During the project the need for guidelines and checklists about accessibility was noted. Accessibility Guidelines for Public Libraries

Based on the idea of Design for All (Universal Design) Not for an average user, but for all kind of users A library client can read literature in that format which is most suitable for her/him (printed book, e-book, audio/talking book, braille book) An accessible library

Definition in the Accessibility Guidelines A library whose services all citizens can use equally despite their disabilities, special needs or minority group status An accessible library

is still a work in progress The first part was published in June will be finished in the spring 2016 Composed by a large group of organizations from the library sector Comments for drafts have been asked also from disability and minority organizations. Finnish Accessibility Guidelines for Public Libraries

Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (Kuntaliitto) Regional State Administrative Agency (AVI) Espoo City Library and Helsinki City Library Celia Library and the Sign Language Library of the Finnish Association of the Deaf Finnish Library Association the Culture for All Service, The Finnish Centre for Easy to Read, The Finnish Diverse Learners’ Association Organizations involved

to give practical advice on accessibility to raise awareness of accessibility among public libraries in Finland to present Design for All idea for public libraries – Good design solutions benefit all users. The aim is

Environmental and physical aspect – wheel chair access Informational aspect – accessibility of communication – accessible collections and materials Social aspect – all citizens feel welcome to a library Different aspects of accessibility

definition of accessibility leadership and strategy of libraries collections and materials customer service events pedagogical activities in libraries library space communication and online services Contents of the Guidelines

definition of accessibility Saavutettavuus vs. esteettömyys In Finnish Saavutettavuussuositus First draft: Yleisten_kirjastojen_saavutettavuussuositus _LUONNOS.pdf Contents of the Guidelines

Additional lists – List of libraries which have collections in certain language or concentrate on certain culture – List of organisations which can give information on disabilities etc. Contents of the Guidelines

Strategy and leadership – In recruiting accessibility experience is taken into consideration. Collections and materials – Accessible books (i.e. audiobooks) are available – When describing HLBTI literature keywords that are used are sensitive and up-to-date Examples of Guidelines

Customer service – Library staff is easily recognized. Events – There is interpretation into sign language or translation into other languages than Finnish if needed. Examples of Guidelines

Serving new customers – Audio/talking books for people with dyslexia – E-books for technically skilled visually impaired persons Benefits of following the guidelines

Aging population and digitalization – need for good usability It is cost effective to take accessibility into consideration from the beginning when online services are planned and designed. Benefits of following the guidelines

a tool for following the new Finnish Non- Discrimination Act – making sure that the needs of disabled persons are taken into consideration at libraries Benefits of following the guidelines

Currently we are composing parts that – cover library space – cover communication and online services in a separate project at Helsinki City Library led by Jaakko Tiinanen Still a Work in Progress

Will be published in Finnish and in Swedish Publication in the spring 2016 Accessibility Guidelines for Public Libraries

Still to do – Find a way to put Guidelines into practice at public libraries Accessibility Guidelines for Public Libraries

Kirsi Ylänne – Thank you! Kiitos! Comments & questions