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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, 2005Access 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 kirjastohttp://www.esok.fi/stivisuositus/
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
• www.kirjastokaikille.fi• Information about the projecthttp://www.celia.fi/palvelut/palvelut-kirjastoille/kirjasto-kaikille
/• Final seminar November 13, 2015http://
bambuser.com/channel/celialibrary
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 2015.• 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:http://suomenkirjastoseura.fi/files/
julkaisut/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– e-mail: [email protected]
www.celia.fi/saavutettava-kirjasto
Thank you! Kiitos!
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