The Trinity Inclusive Library Strategy Michelle Jessie The Trinity Inclusive Library Strategy Michelle Jessie

THE SCENE FROM 2002: - Library funded via Disability Services for one position – Library Liaison Officer - Staff at counters call Library Liaison Officer to deal with service - Service is seen as excellent – as it’s personal, however it is limited to the availability of the Library Liaison Officer

THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENT: -Numbers of students registered with the Disability Service is increasing -Library Liaison Officer can’t cope with the demand on the service -Service counters can’t meet demand -College Disability Service audited – so Library is now scheduled for external review

THE PATH TO CHANGE: -External review held summer Recommendations & Library’s Implementation plan taken to Library Committee -Funding for full-time position to facilitate the recommendations -Michelle Garvey (TIC coordinator) appointed to role

Recommendations included: (1)Change management post (2)Buildings plan with priorities for accessible works (3)Policy/procedure for acquisition of alternate formats (4)Inclusivity awareness training for staff (5)Mechanism to provide for continuous review and revision of service policies and practices

HOW DID WE MAKE IT HAPPEN? -Oversight Steering Group (reps from across the Library) – via regular meetings providing ongoing input -Disability Service Director – providing funding and support - Trinity Inclusive Officer – providing impetus, persistence and drive -With a dash of: Communication; Commitment; Willingness

HOW DO WE KEEP IT GOING? Sustainability will be via: -Ongoing liaison between the Library & the Disability Service -A sitting joint-committee to monitor the service -Watching brief

What is TIL? Collaborative strategy between the Trinity College Library and Disability Service, Aimed to enhance the inclusive nature of library services Move away from add-on services towards a model where supports are embedded into the mainstream service.

Why TIL? Arose following Service Review. Rise in students with registered disabilities

Common difficulties faced by readers with disabilities included: An inaccessible physical environment, Inaccessible materials, Side effects of illnesses and of medication, Difficulties with self-management, Communication difficulties, Inaccessible training events.

Objectives of TIL: Physical Environment: Improve physical access, Information resources: Enhance access to n resources and agree a model for provision of information in alternative format, Staff training: Develop an inclusivity awareness programme, Library Policy: Develop a clear service policy to enhance inclusion.

Administration: Implementation oversight committee set up. Included representatives from the main Library buildings / areas of the library, and the Disability Service.

Physical Environment

Physical Access. Disability Act 2005 – all buildings to be accessible by 2015

ATIC Spaces. 3 “Assistive Technology Information Centres” (ATIC). computers with assistive software, Printer low distraction study spaces, Assistive Technology Officer,

Information Resources.

Accessible Information. Support the Implementation of the Accessible Information Policy. Annual Everyday Accessibility Workshop More information from our online resources:

Library Web Resources: Disabled reader webpage: Staff pages: libraries/index.php libraries/index.php Inclusive Training Guidelines: projects/inclusive-libraries/training.php AV Materials:

Alternative Formatting. Some readers cannot access print materials and need resources in an alternative format. Audio access (mostly text-to-speech software), large print, or Braille. TCD either obtains an alternative format for this student or creates one from a physical copy. Alternative formatting Flow Chart to be piloted.

Alt Formatting Difficulties. Obstacles to the effective provision of alternatively formatted resources include: late receipt of reading lists, difficulties acquiring machine readable formats (MRFs) for editing, lack of awareness of alternative formatting needs amongst publishers, difficulties finding time and monetary resources to alternatively format from physical copies.

Reading list Strategies. Good Practice Guidelines: info/reading-lists.php info/reading-lists.php AV resources Library Access to VLE

Publishers Strategies. Copyright Review: Publishers are given an anticipatory duty to retain intermediate electronic versions of resources that can be supplied in a timely manner when requested for the purpose of creating an accessible resource for a person with a disability who is the owner or lawful user of a work. The intermediate electronic documents follow an agreed standard to ensure accessibility.

Staff Training.

Workshops and Presentations. Everyday Accessibility, Disability Service Supports in the Library, Customer Care Course,

Library Policy and Process.

Future Planning: Policy and Processes. Reader Charter Code of Practice and Guidelines TIL Monitoring Committee. Staff CPD and Training

THANK YOU.