Making Your Library Space Work for Every Body

AFTER YOU ATTEND THIS COURSE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO:

• Understand the importance of welcoming library spaces for all patrons and employees, including people with visible and invisible disabilities.
• Explain how universal design principles apply to physical library spaces serving people with diverse abilities and needs.
• Assess the accessibility of library spaces and identify barriers that limit use or comfort for people with physical, cognitive, sensory, or situational access needs.
• Gather and interpret meaningful demographic data and input from patrons and employees to inform accessibility decisions.
• Translate assessment and user research findings into realistic, actionable recommendations for improving physical spaces.
• Apply strategies for maintaining and sustaining accessible and welcoming library spaces over time.

THIS COURSE CONSISTS OF 4 ON-DEMAND MODULES:

Module 1: Rethinking Accessibility in Library Spaces

This module establishes a shared foundation for understanding physical accessibility in library spaces and the importance of making spaces welcoming for all patrons and employees. You’ll develop a common language around accessibility and universal design, and examine how “accessible” often extends beyond ADA compliance or visible mobility needs. You’ll explore how physical spaces can support—or unintentionally exclude—patrons with physical, sensory, cognitive, and neurodivergent needs. By the end of the module, you’ll have a framework that can be applied to all functions of the library, including the physical environment.

Module 2: Evaluating Library Spaces for Accessibility

In this module, you’ll learn how to systematically evaluate your library’s physical environment using universal design principles. The module will cover observational techniques used to evaluate common space elements like entrances, signage, seating, lighting, and acoustics. By the end of the module, you’ll be able to conduct and document an accessibility audit to identify realistic, actionable improvements.

Module 3: Centering Patron and Employee Experience Through User Research

Accessibility cannot be fully understood without knowing about and listening to the people who use—and avoid—library spaces. This module introduces practical, ethical ways to gather input, lived experiences, and demographic data. You’ll learn how to conduct inclusive observation and feedback activities that deepen your understanding of how real people experience your space. Lastly, you’ll explore sources of demographic data so you can gain additional insights about the population your library serves.

Module 4: Executing Short-Term and Long-Term Accessibility Plans

This final module focuses on turning insights into actionable steps. You’ll learn how to prioritize findings, develop low-cost and phased improvement ideas, and advocate for changes effectively to decision-makers. The module also covers maintenance of accessible design over time, including documentation, policies, and staff training. By the end, you’ll know how to embed universal design principles into everyday practice rather than treating it as a one-time project.

COURSE ADVISOR & INSTRUCTORS

Robin Davis, Associate Head of User Experience, NC State University Libraries

Robin Camille Davis is the Associate Head of User Experience at NC State University Libraries, where she conducts user research, coordinates content strategy, and advocates for accessible practices. She earned her MA in Computational Linguistics from the Graduate Center at CUNY and her MLIS from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she was a Data Curation for the Humanities Fellow. In 2022, she was honored with a Movers & Shakers award from Library Journal.

Susanna Cowan, Assessment Strategist, UConn Library (University of Connecticut)

Susanna Cowan has been the Assessment Strategist at the UConn Library since 2018. She holds an MLS and a PhD in English and has worked both inside and outside the library at the University of Connecticut in a range of administrative roles. Much of her work centers on using qualitative and quantitative methods to tell compelling stories about library impact, highlighting strengths and identifying areas for growth. She serves as an assessment consultant, project lead, and advocate for inclusive assessment practices. Susanna also teaches an academic course annually, challenging her to meet undergraduates where they are in a rapidly changing world.

Kara Flynn, Archives Education & Outreach Coordinator, University of Connecticut

Kara Flynn is the Archives Education & Outreach Coordinator for the University of Connecticut Library’s Archives & Special Collections. She received her MLIS with a concentration in Archives from the University of Pittsburgh. Her research interests include archival outreach, teaching with primary sources, universal design for learning, and archival education.

Carli Spina, Head of Research & Instructional Services, FIT Library

Carli Spina is the Head of Research & Instructional Services at the FIT Library. She has extensive experience working on library projects related to accessibility, Universal Design, and user experience. She is the author of Creating Inclusive Libraries by Applying Universal Design and co-author of the Digital Accessibility Handbook for Libraries, along with numerous articles, book chapters, and reports focused on accessibility in libraries.

Scott Young, User Experience Librarian, Montana State University

Scott W. H. Young is a User Experience Librarian and professor at Montana State University. His work focuses on user research, content strategy, participatory design, and ethics. He recently published a book with Library Juice Press, Knowing our Value and our Values: Toward An Ethical Practice of Library Assessment. He also serves as editor-in-chief of Weave: Journal of Library User Experience.

Jacqueline Frank, Assistant Professor, Instruction & Accessibility Librarian, Montana State University Library

Jacqueline Frank is a nationally recognized leader in library accessibility and universal design. As the Instruction & Accessibility Librarian at Montana State University Library and head of its Instruction Department, she teaches information literacy, helps students with research, and works to improve library resources and services to be more accessible and inclusive for everyone. Her scholarship on accessible instruction and services, sensory-friendly environments, and slow librarianship practices appears in peer-reviewed journals and national conferences. She has also led accessibility policy development, long term compliance planning efforts, campus-wide training, and physical and digital accessibility audit projects that prioritize practical and continual improvements for a more accessible library. She holds an M.L.I.S from the University of Kentucky, and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Montana State University.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

This course is for any public and academic library personnel.

THIS WILL BE A SELF-PACED, ASYNCHRONOUS COURSE.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

This course includes 4 modules, each designed to take approximately 4 hours to complete. You can move through the content at your own pace and on your own schedule. You'll earn 16 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion.

ON-DEMAND ACCESS

You'll have access to all course materials for six months after the start of the course.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Complete the course and earn 16 professional development credit hours. We provide a certificate that is emailed to you.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto captioning. Please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

SUPPORT

For support with online courses, please contact course-support@libraryjournal.com .

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GROUP RATES

We offer discounts for groups of 3 or more.

For larger groups of 15 or more, we offer the option to apply group rates across multiple courses to receive significant discounts. For more information, select Bulk Course Credits Packages in the form below.

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