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Learning Path: Accessible Library Programming

Let’s learn about accessible library programming! Accessible library programming creates events where everyone feels welcome and included. Ultimately, prioritizing accessible programming benefits patrons and strengthens the library’s reputation as an inclusive and supportive space within the community.

Overview

The total time to complete this learning path is about 4 hours.

By the end of this learning path, you will have new ideas for accessible programs you can implement in your library. This path includes supporting resources to help you ensure your program advertisements and documents are accessible.

Learning Path

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Step 1: Accessible Programming in Canada Examples

To help inspire you when creating your own library programming, we have brought together examples of what other libraries are doing.

This section will take approximately 1 hour and 8 minutes.

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Step 2: Going Further

When creating accessible library programming, there are many pieces to consider. In this section, we will provide resources from other learning paths to help you go further.

The approximate time to complete this section is 3 hours.

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Step 3: Explore Supporting Resources

There are many different resources out there to help you create accessible programming. We hope you enjoy discovering what is out there.

The total time it takes to complete this section is up to you!

Accessible Programming in Canada

To help inspire you when creating your own library programming, we have brought together examples of what other libraries are implementing in Canada and the United States.

The total time to complete this section is 1 hour and 8 minutes.

  • Accessible Library Programming Examples: This resource brings together examples of Canadian and USA library programming. The resource lists multiple examples describing the components of the programming you can utilize (30 minutes).
  • Checklist: Creating Accessible Presentations: If you have a presentation as part of your library programming, follow this checklist! It will help ensure your presentation file and the content you present are accessible. This is essential so everyone can access and understand the information you are discussing (38 minutes).

Going Further

When creating accessible library programming, there are many pieces to consider. In this section, we will provide resources from other learning paths to help you go further.

The total time to complete this section is 3 hours.

  • Checklist: Creating Accessible Documents: This checklist is an excellent resource to consult when creating accessible documents, especially if you have documents that are part of your library programming (35 minutes).
  • Checklist for Creating Accessible Social Media: When advertising your library programming, ensure your marketing materials and social media posts are accessible! If your marketing is accessible for your accessible programming, it will send the right message to your target audience (20 minutes).
  • Adding Alt Text and Long Descriptions Checklist: This is a great resource with examples that provide information on how to create alternative text and long descriptions for images, including complex content such as infographics, charts, and maps. (20 minutes)
  • Accessibility Etiquette in the Library Panel Discussion: This is a discussion with experts and panellists with lived experiences about their positive and negative library experiences and how those experiences could have been improved (40 minutes).
  • Quick Reference: Accessibility 101 For Public Libraries: This resource briefly summarizes some of the information covered in the Accessibility 101 Webinar, making it a great introductory resource or refresher. It also includes links to related resources (10 minutes).
  • Accessible Emails Checklist: This resource contains best practices to ensure that people with multiple print disabilities can easily consume the content of an email or, more specifically for this learning path, a library newsletter. (20 minutes)
  • Assistive Technology Demonstrations: Assistive technology refers to products, equipment, and systems that enhance reading, learning, working, and daily living for people with disabilities. In this resource, we provide assistive technology demonstrations (35 minutes).

Explore Supporting Resources

Let’s read and explore other resources that will help you create accessible library programming!

The total time it takes to complete this section is up to you!