AccessibleLibraries.ca launched a study, called Is Your Public Library Accessible? to collect the library experiences of people with all types of disabilities. The input gathered in the study will help inform future training resources for libraries across Canada.
The Is Your Public Library Accessible Final Report is now available. You can also download the report in Word and HTML formats.
As part of this study, we asked participants to:
- Join an online focus group discussion in April/May 2022 to talk about their impressions and personal experiences with accessibility in their public library.
- Visit their local public library, in person and/or interact with it virtually, 6 to 10 times between June 2022 and January 2023.
- Complete short accessibility surveys sent following each visit to collect their thoughts and observations of their library’s ability to meet their accessibility needs.
- There will be a second online focus group in December/January 2023 to reflect on their experiences.
All components of the study, including the focus groups and surveys, were offered in both French and English.
Privacy
While some information gathered during the study may be shared with Canadian public libraries, all names, and any identifying information, including disability type, gender, age, and geographical region of the participants will be removed prior to sharing with any library and kept completely confidential.