Best Practices for Alberta Public Libraries
If you are a part of a public library in Alberta, this resource can help you find the general guidelines and additional resources on implementing the standards in the document.
Circulation Staff
Inclusive Language in A Canadian Style Guide
It is important to follow style guides in media. This guide offers an array of options for talking about disabilities.
Improving Braille Availability in Canadian Public Libraries
This study on improving Braille availability in Canadian public libraries was requested by NNELS in 2018 and written by a group of Canadian writers and researchers led by the Canadian Federation of the Blind. The paper’s purpose is to explore how to improve access to Braille for those who need it.
Kanopy Report
The Accessibility Report for Kanopy, from the National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) with support from the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program, examines the video streaming platform’s usability for individuals with print disabilities.
Assistive Technology Demonstrations
Assistive technology refers to products, equipment, and systems that enhance reading, learning, working, and daily living for people with disabilities. We have provided explanations and a few examples of demonstrations on how people use assistive technologies so you can understand their role in their lives.
Accessible Reading Technologies Webinar
The Accessibility Reading Technologies Webinar briefly examines various Accessible formats and technologies. This webinar highlights the importance of ensuring that the entire process of obtaining a book from start to finish is Accessible.
Rules for the Microsoft Accessibility Checker
The rules for the Microsoft accessibility checker are a thorough guide to the various ways a user can ensure that their Microsoft 365 files are accessible. This guide is a helpful resource for library staff and patrons alike to help ensure your Microsoft creations are accessible.
Accessibility Etiquette in the Library Panel Discussion
The Accessibility Etiquette panel brings together a group of experts to talk about their positive and negative library experiences, how those experiences could have been improved, with suggestions on how to do so.
Summer Short Webinar: Font Attributes
The last webinar in the Summer Short series is about font attributes and how to format your text accessibly in your documents.
A Guided Tour of AccessibleLibraries.ca
Are you interested in learning more about the AccessibleLibraries.ca website? This video tour guides you through the site and points out useful features for public library staff.
Quick Reference: Accessibility 101 For Public Libraries
To get you started on your accessibility journey, we’ve summarized information from the Accessibility 101 webinar. The fact and links in this training resource will help you establish foundational knowledge that you can build on.
Android Accessibility Help
This resource provides a quick overview of accessibility settings that library staff can use on Android devices. It could be helpful for troubleshooting with a patron having issues with an Android device.
Apple Accessibility Support
A guide for some of the accessibility features available in Apple products, including VoiceOver, AssistiveTouch, Switch Control, Guided Access, and Voice Control. There is also a braille user guide for different types of apple devices.
AppleVis
AppleVis is an online resource for blind and low-vision users of Apple products such as the Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The blog provides guides to various apps and software, reviews of the accessibility of Apple products, and a discussion forum and podcast.
Knowbility
Knowbility is a nonprofit organization with the mission of improving technology access for millions of youth and adults with disabilities all over the world. They provide several services, including accessibility testing, auditing, training, and a regularly updated comprehensive blog on web accessibility.
General Resources on Disabilities
The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) from the Library of Congress created a list covering braille, devices, and general disability resources. Some of the resources are specific to American library services, but it contains some valuable guides on resources such as assistive technology, education, employment advice, and more.
Accessibility Information Toolkit for Libraries
This in-depth Toolkit broadly covers accessibility as it applies to libraries. It provides information about creating an accessible collection for your patrons and standards of accessibility for a library to follow. This would be an excellent resource for a library looking to develop its accessibility policies.
Project Pals: College Of Communication & Information
Four training modules are centred around making the library accessible for people with autism. The course includes research-based checklists, examples of materials, tip sheets, lists, and templates to implement best practices in your unique library setting. This self-paced course is free to all library workers and volunteers if you create an OCLC account.
WebAIM Resources
WebAIM provides users with a list of accessibility resources and tools to help them learn about web accessibility. It includes an introduction to web accessibility, their WCAG checklist, and a Word and PowerPoint evaluation checklist.
Accessibility 101 for Canadian Public Library Staff Webinar Recording
The Accessibility 101 webinar recording provides foundational information about accessibility in public libraries. The topics discussed include – “Introduction to Accessibility,” “Introduction to Disabilities,” “Introduction to Accessible Formats,” and more.