Public Libraries – key agents for accessible and inclusive technology

Alistair McNaughtDr Simon Ball

JISC Techdiswww.jisctechdis.ac.uk

The opportunity

Library users often have limited knowledge of what opportunities technology can offer.

The library is the only place of learning for many people.

There is less of a difference in use of libraries between rich and poor areas than in any other cultural sector. 

The library is the key location for communicating the accessibility potential of technology. If they don't learn about it at the library, they may never know.

Libraries as learning centres

Internet accessAssistive technology and productivity Alternative formatseBooks

Internet access

99.3% of public libraries in US offer free access to computers and the Internet. Over 64% of libraries report that they are the only source of free Internet access in their communities.Source - American Library Association 2011

Internet access

Opportunities:Browser settings [1]PDF accessibility [2]Word views [3]

Assistive technology / productivity

Windows accessibility options [1] Portable tools (e.g. MyStudyBar) [4],[5] Online tools [6]

Alternative formats [7], [8]

Alternative media Effective searching

Online collections

Format shifting tools

eBooks

Many accessibility benefitsSome accessibility barriersOpportunity for advocacy[9]

http://tinyurl.com/td-ebooks

Where we start from (UK data)Adults visiting libraries 2010-11 (DCMS Aug 2011)

Making it equal.

Many tools are useful for a wide range of users.Some users, especially older users, may not think of themselves as 'disabled'.Library management often want to restrict access to items for 'disabled users' to ensure they are available when needed.The focus should be on 'productivity' (positive) and not 'barriers' or 'difficulties' (negative). [10]

Links[1] www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/AccessibilityEssentials/2007/AE1/index [2] www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/AccessibilityEssentials/2007/AE4/index [3] www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/AccessibilityEssentials/2007/AE2/index [4] www.rsc-ne-scotland.ac.uk/eduapps/mystudybar.php[5] www.eifl.net/news/foss-disability-tools-having-impact-zimbabwe[6] www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/freesoftware [7] www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/altformats [8] www.publisherlookup.org.uk [9] http://tinyurl.com/td-ebooks[10] http://tinyurl.com/td-productivity