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Creating a Library Accessibility Policy

• Make sure that all stakeholders, including potential patrons and staff with disabilities, are represented as policies, procedures, and standards are developed.
• Review what policies and procedures currently exist for the procurement, use, and development of electronic and information technology and consider how accessibility issues might be incorporated within existing policies and procedures.
• Review policies and guidelines that have been created by other organizations. Incorporate good ideas into the library's policies and procedures.
• Develop a broad policy statement that commits the library to making all programs, services, and resources available to students and employees with disabilities.
• List potential access challenges that may face students and employees with disabilities within the programs, services, and resources offered using electronic and information technology at the library.
• Consider Section 508 standards used by the federal government and state laws and policies as a model for the library's standards.
• Assign a library staff member to be responsible for updating disability-related access policies and guidelines and assuring compliance.
• Develop a plan to phase in compliance with accessibility guidelines for previously developed courses and resources, with a date by which all electronic products will be compliant.
• Disseminate accessibility policy, guidelines, and procedures throughout the library. Make it clear that the policy has high- level endorsement.
• Provide regular training and support regarding accessibility issues, policies, and guidelines to staff member and patrons.
• Regularly evaluate progress made toward the use of accessible electronic and information technology in the library.
• Develop procedures for responding quickly to requests for disability-related accommodations when electronic and information technology that is used in the library is not accessible to a library patrons. Apply accessibility policies, procedures, and standards will assure that such requests are kept to a minimum.