| Category |
Identified Barrier |
Remedy/Goal |
Responsibility |
Timeline |
Status |
- Policies, Programs & Services
|
- The Library's commitment with regards to its services for persons with disabilities is posted in only one location of the Library Staff Web.
|
- Formalize the Library's endeavours by giving the statement of commitment prominence on the Library's website.
|
Library Managers; Co-ordinator, Library Services for Persons with Disabilities. |
2003 |
Completed |
|
|
- Formalize the endeavours by including a statement with regards to accessibility in the terms of reference for Library Committees & Task Forces.
|
Library Managers |
ongoing |
ongoing |
|
- Some Library practices may constitute barriers for some users
|
- Evaluate current practices, and continue to identify barriers, thus indicating directions for possible change:
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Perform an Accessibility Audit of the Dana Porter, Davis Centre & University Map and Design Libraries to identify other barriers.
|
Library Facilities in conjunction with other Library departments. |
2003-2004 |
Completed |
|
|
- Include a focus group of students with disabilities in the Reference Services Review project.
|
Information Services Management Committee |
2003-2004 |
Completed |
|
|
- Ask students registered with the Office for Persons with Disabilities for feedback on Library services in general.
|
Co-ordinator, Library Services for Persons with Disabilities & Community Needs Assessment Committee |
2003-2004 |
Survey Completed |
| |
- Without a formal reporting and evaluation structure the completion of accessibility initiatives could be compromised.
|
- Department Heads, & Committee and Task Force Chairs will report on the progress to the University Librarian at the end of each fiscal year for subsequent review at a Library Managers meeting.
|
Library Managers |
annually |
ongoing |
- Electronic Access
|
- Some online resources are inaccessible to users of screen-readers and other adaptive technology.
|
- In conjunction with the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL), explore ways to encourage producers to create accessible products.
|
University Librarian; Assistant University Librarian. |
2003-2004 |
Completed |
|
|
- Develop an assessment checklist to be used when testing new products.
|
Web Operational Management Group, Information Resources Management Committee & the Co-ordinator, Library Services for Person with Disabilities. |
2003-2004 |
Completed |
|
|
- Explore the feasibility of enlisting students to test potential purchases using the equipment in the Adaptive Technology Centre.
|
Information Resources Management Committee & Co-ordinator, Library Services for Persons with Disabilities |
2003-2004 |
ongoing |
|
- Some of the individual Library websites do not meet accessibility standards.
|
- Initiate a Web Quality Assurance project to help ensure that Library web pages adhere to certain web and accessibility standards.
|
Web Operational Management Group |
2003 |
Completed |
|
|
- Working with student users, mount a demonstration of screen-reading technology and accessible websites for Web Site Maintainers.
|
Co-ordinator, Library Services for Persons with Disabilities & Web Operational Management Group. |
2003 |
Completed |
| |
- It is the Library's practice to mount material on Electronic Reserves in both HTML and PDF format wherever feasible. However, in some instances, material received from faculty members can only be mounted electronically if scanned into PDF format. This format presents a barrier to people using screen-readers.
|
- Indicate to faculty members the Library's accessibility initiatives and that it is preferable to receive electronic material for Electronic Reserves so that it can be mounted in an HTML version.
|
User Services |
ongoing |
ongoing |
- Physical Environment & Facilities
|
- The current entrance and exit doors to the Davis Centre Library are not accessible.
|
- Install automatic door openers on the entrance/exit doors.
|
Plant Operations, Office for Persons with Disabilities & Library. |
2004 (funds permitting; in conjunction with the renovations to the Davis Centre Library). |
Completed |
|
- Books protruding into the aisles in some of the book stacks hinder wheelchair passage.
|
- Beginning on the 6th floor of the Dana Porter Library,
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Identify the aisles where the books shelved below the height of 105 cm. (usually the third shelf) protrude beyond the edge of the shelf.
|
User Services |
2003-2004 |
Completed |
|
|
- In conjunction with Library Facilities and the Safety Office, investigate additional locations for oversize material.
|
User Services, Library Facilities, Safety Office |
2004 |
Completed |
|
|
- The 6th floor weeding project will create space for books to be re-shelved.
|
User Services |
2004-2005 |
in process |
| |
- Some signage is below the standards needed for accessibility.
|
- The report, "Dana Porter Signage and the New User" (December, 2001), lists a number of recommendations, many of which have been completed. With a view to fulfilling recommendation 8, the Library has received an estimate for the cost of upgrading signage from a signage/wayfinding consulting firm.
|
Library Managers |
2003-2004, funds permitting |
Pending |
| |
- Current facilities in the Davis Centre Library need to be upgraded.
|
- Accessibility features, including adaptive technology, will be incorporated into the Davis Centre Information Commons project.
|
Davis Centre Library Renovations Planning Team |
2004 |
ongoing |
| |
- The public elevators in the Dana Porter and Davis Centre Libraries lack accessibility features.
|
- Upgrade the elevators to meet accessibility standards.
|
Plant Operations, Office for Persons with Disabilities, and the Library |
2004-2005 |
Completed |
- Communications & Awareness
|
- Lack of awareness with regards to Disability issues can hinder Library staff's service to users.
|
- Continue presentations on the Ontarians with Disabilities Act to Library groups.
|
Co-ordinator, Library Services for Persons with Disabilities |
2003-2004 |
Completed |
