Library Service to Persons with Disabilities: Home
Covers ALA policies, resources. Provides resources
The American Library Association recognizes that people with disabilities are a large and neglected minority in the 
community and are severely under-represented in the library profession. Disabilities cause many personal challenges. In addition, many people with disabilities face economic inequity, illiteracy, cultural isolation, and discrimination in education, employment and the broad range of societal activities.
Libraries play a catalytic role in the lives of people with disabilities by facilitating their full participation in society. Libraries should use strategies based upon the principles of universal design to ensure that library policy, resources and services meet the needs of all people.
community and are severely under-represented in the library profession. Disabilities cause many personal challenges. In addition, many people with disabilities face economic inequity, illiteracy, cultural isolation, and discrimination in education, employment and the broad range of societal activities.Libraries play a catalytic role in the lives of people with disabilities by facilitating their full participation in society. Libraries should use strategies based upon the principles of universal design to ensure that library policy, resources and services meet the needs of all people.
This resource guide provides information on ALA policies and resources for library service to persons with disabilities, information on ALA working groups, a selected bibliography, and other online resources.
ALA Groups Working on Accessibility Issues
- CORE Access and Equity SectionSection of CORE focused on creating and promoting ways for libraries to be more accessible for all patrons.
- ACRL Universal Accessibility Interest GroupThe Universal Accessibility Interest group offers librarians, support staff, students, and other advocates networking and collaboration opportunities, information sharing and programming to promote accessibility in academic libraries, including web accessibility, assistive technology, reference and instruction for users with disabilities and captioning processes.
ALA Policies and Statements
- Library Services for People with DisabilitiesBroad-based policy statement covering library services, facilities, assistive technology, employment, and several ALA services.
- Services to People with Disabilities: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of RightsAn explication of The Library Bill of Rights articles with a focus on services to people with disabilities.
