This poster was presented at the ACRL NEC conference on May 6, 2019. The Accessibility Team, part of the Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee at the University of New Hampshire Library, shared strategies and methods for establishing campus partnerships to enhance library space accessibility. They presented ideas about fostering outreach to campus partners, methods to assess their own physical library spaces, and strategies for collecting formal and informal data about library accessibility

Dhabolt, Kristin

Morris, Barbara

Opuda, Eugenia

Peck, Benjamin

Riley, Jenna

English

Dhabolt, Kristin P

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
University Library Scholarship University Library
5-6-2019
The Library is for Everyone: Cultivating Campus
Partnerships to Enhance Library Accessibility
Jenna Riley
University of New Hampshire, Durham, jenna.riley@unh.edu
Benjamin Peck
University of New Hampshire, Durham, benjamin.peck@unh.edu
Eugenia Opuda
University of New Hampshire, Durham, eugenia.opuda@unh.edu
Kristin P. Dhabolt
University of New Hampshire, Durham, kristin.dhabolt@unh.edu
Barbara Morris
University of New Hampshire, Durham, barbara.morris@unh.edu
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/library_pub
This Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by the University Library at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been
accepted for inclusion in University Library Scholarship by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For
more information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Riley, Jenna; Peck, Benjamin; Opuda, Eugenia; Dhabolt, Kristin P.; and Morris, Barbara, "The Library is for Everyone: Cultivating
Campus Partnerships to Enhance Library Accessibility" (2019). University Library Scholarship. 117.
https://scholars.unh.edu/library_pub/117
Accessibility Team Goals
• Improve the accessibility of our physical and 
digital spaces and resources
• Enhance the user experience
• Increase the visibility of accessible services
What We Did
• Researched best practices and policies
• Collaborated with campus partners to gather 
feedback and expertise
• Assessed library spaces to create a list of 
strengths and weaknesses
• Made recommendations for high-impact, 
low-cost changes to our library spaces
The Library is for Everyone: 
Cultivating Campus Partnerships to 
Enhance Library Accessibility
Jenna Riley, Benjamin Peck, Eugenia Opuda, Kristin Dhabolt, Barbara Morris
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Background
Moving Forward
Next Steps 
• Disseminate surveys among students with 
accessibility needs 
• Research accessibility trends across campus
• Conduct usability testing for spaces and web
• Develop an impact-effort-cost matrix with 
recommendations to library administration
Future Growth
• Create and foster channels for future 
conversations around accessibility
• Push for universal design in renovations
• Support a broader range of disabilities
• Assess the impact of our space changes on 
library users
Association of College & Research Libraries New England Chapter Annual Conference, May 2019
Quick & Attainable Goals
Methods & Processes
Partners
UNH Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
• Advised about physical accessibility concerns
UNH Access 4 All Student Organization
• Provided student-centered feedback
UNH Survey Center
• Provided feedback for creating accessible, 
mobile-friendly, and valid surveys
Internal Library Partners
Library Information Technology 
• Addressed web accessibility concerns
Collection Management
• Assisted with physical barriers to materials
Circulation staff & Library leadership
• Facilitated recommended space changes
Add Signage
Promote accessible 
resources with clear signs
Keep Paths Clear 
Remove barriers such as 
book trucks, recycling 
bins, wires, etc.
Measure
Use a yardstick to test 
accessible space for 
wheelchairs
Identify all possible areas of 
accessibility that affect our 
spaces, resources, and services
Identify ways to market a library 
wide campaign for accessibility
Review peer institutions to 
build knowledge and identify 
services to add or improve
Update and improve the 
library’s accessibility webpage
Meet with SAS Director for 
recommendations and 
accessibility tours
Provide accessibility quick-tips 
for library’s annual spruce up
Meet with UNH Access4All
President to hear about 
students’ experiences
Draft accessibility survey and 
get Survey Center feedback
Library Accessibility Toolkit: bit.ly/UNHLibrary-Accessibility
xAccessibility
Space
Signage
Communication
Technology
Web
Outreach
Photos licensed through Creative Commons
Key Takeaway: physical accessibility can be easily accomplished through a 
commitment to awareness and enforcement of simple space changes


The Library is for Everyone: Cultivating Campus Partnerships to Enhance Library Accessibility

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryUniversity Library Scholarship University Library5-6-2019The Library is for Everyone: Cultivating CampusPartnerships to Enhance Library AccessibilityJenna RileyUniversity of New Hampshire, Durham, jenna.riley@unh.eduBenjamin PeckUniversity of New Hampshire, Durham, benjamin.peck@unh.eduEugenia OpudaUniversity of New Hampshire, Durham, eugenia.opuda@unh.eduKristin P. DhaboltUniversity of New Hampshire, Durham, kristin.dhabolt@unh.eduBarbara MorrisUniversity of New Hampshire, Durham, barbara.morris@unh.eduFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/library_pubThis Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by the University Library at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has beenaccepted for inclusion in University Library Scholarship by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. Formore information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationRiley, Jenna; Peck, Benjamin; Opuda, Eugenia; Dhabolt, Kristin P.; and Morris, Barbara, "The Library is for Everyone: CultivatingCampus Partnerships to Enhance Library Accessibility" (2019). University Library Scholarship. 117.https://scholars.unh.edu/library_pub/117Accessibility Team Goals• Improve the accessibility of our physical and digital spaces and resources• Enhance the user experience• Increase the visibility of accessible servicesWhat We Did• Researched best practices and policies• Collaborated with campus partners to gather feedback and expertise• Assessed library spaces to create a list of strengths and weaknesses• Made recommendations for high-impact, low-cost changes to our library spacesThe Library is for Everyone: Cultivating Campus Partnerships to Enhance Library AccessibilityJenna Riley, Benjamin Peck, Eugenia Opuda, Kristin Dhabolt, Barbara MorrisUniversity of New Hampshire, Durham, NHBackgroundMoving ForwardNext Steps • Disseminate surveys among students with accessibility needs • Research accessibility trends across campus• Conduct usability testing for spaces and web• Develop an impact-effort-cost matrix with recommendations to library administrationFuture Growth• Create and foster channels for future conversations around accessibility• Push for universal design in renovations• Support a broader range of disabilities• Assess the impact of our space changes on library usersAssociation of College & Research Libraries New England Chapter Annual Conference, May 2019Quick & Attainable GoalsMethods & ProcessesPartnersUNH Student Accessibility Services (SAS)• Advised about physical accessibility concernsUNH Access 4 All Student Organization• Provided student-centered feedbackUNH Survey Center• Provided feedback for creating accessible, mobile-friendly, and valid surveysInternal Library PartnersLibrary Information Technology • Addressed web accessibility concernsCollection Management• Assisted with physical barriers to materialsCirculation staff & Library leadership• Facilitated recommended space changesAdd SignagePromote accessible resources with clear signsKeep Paths Clear Remove barriers such as book trucks, recycling bins, wires, etc.MeasureUse a yardstick to test accessible space for wheelchairsIdentify all possible areas of accessibility that affect our spaces, resources, and servicesIdentify ways to market a library wide campaign for accessibilityReview peer institutions to build knowledge and identify services to add or improveUpdate and improve the library’s accessibility webpageMeet with SAS Director for recommendations and accessibility toursProvide accessibility quick-tips for library’s annual spruce upMeet with UNH Access4AllPresident to hear about students’ experiencesDraft accessibility survey and get Survey Center feedbackLibrary Accessibility Toolkit: bit.ly/UNHLibrary-AccessibilityxAccessibilitySpaceSignageCommunicationTechnologyWebOutreachPhotos licensed through Creative CommonsKey Takeaway: physical accessibility can be easily accomplished through a commitment to awareness and enforcement of simple space changes

ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst

Accessibility Team Goals• Improve the accessibility of our physical and digital spaces and resources• Enhance the user experience• Increase the visibility of accessible servicesWhat We Did• Researched best practices and policies• Collaborated with campus partners to gather feedback and expertise• Assessed library spaces to create a list of strengths and weaknesses• Made recommendations for high-impact, low-cost changes to our library spacesThe Library is for Everyone: Cultivating Campus Partnerships to Enhance Library AccessibilityJenna Riley, Benjamin Peck, Eugenia Opuda, Kristin Dhabolt, Barbara MorrisUniversity of New Hampshire, Durham, NHBackgroundMoving ForwardNext Steps • Disseminate surveys among students with accessibility needs • Research accessibility trends across campus• Conduct usability testing for spaces and web• Develop an impact-effort-cost matrix with recommendations to library administrationFuture Growth• Create and foster channels for future conversations around accessibility• Push for universal design in renovations• Support a broader range of disabilities• Assess the impact of our space changes on library usersAssociation of College & Research Libraries New England Chapter Annual Conference, May 2019Quick & Attainable GoalsMethods & ProcessesPartnersUNH Student Accessibility Services (SAS)• Advised about physical accessibility concernsUNH Access 4 All Student Organization• Provided student-centered feedbackUNH Survey Center• Provided feedback for creating accessible, mobile-friendly, and valid surveysInternal Library PartnersLibrary Information Technology • Addressed web accessibility concernsCollection Management• Assisted with physical barriers to materialsCirculation staff & Library leadership• Facilitated recommended space changesAdd SignagePromote accessible resources with clear signsKeep Paths Clear Remove barriers such as book trucks, recycling bins, wires, etc.MeasureUse a yardstick to test accessible space for wheelchairsIdentify all possible areas of accessibility that affect our spaces, resources, and servicesIdentify ways to market a library wide campaign for accessibilityReview peer institutions to build knowledge and identify services to add or improveUpdate and improve the library’s accessibility webpageMeet with SAS Director for recommendations and accessibility toursProvide accessibility quick-tips for library’s annual spruce upMeet with UNH Access4AllPresident to hear about students’ experiencesDraft accessibility survey and get Survey Center feedbackLibrary Accessibility Toolkit: bit.ly/UNHLibrary-AccessibilityxAccessibilitySpaceSignageCommunicationTechnologyWebOutreachPhotos licensed through Creative CommonsKey Takeaway: physical accessibility can be easily accomplished through a commitment to awareness and enforcement of simple space changes

https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1140&amp;context=acrl_nec_conf

The Library is for Everyone: Cultivating Campus Partnerships to Enhance Library Accessibility

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University of New Hampshire

UNH Scholars' Repository

ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst

University of New Hampshire