Assistive Technology and Libraries

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Libraries and Assistive Technology

Post by Jennifer Fischer

An article I read, titled "Assistive-Adaptive technology," opened my eyes to the ways libraries could better serve users with disabilities. The author, John J. Burke, discusses assistive and adaptive technologies, the ways they can help users with disabilities, and assessing the community the library serves to fit the needs of its users. 

Assessing the community is the first step in making the library more user friendly for all. How will librarians or library staff know what to purchase for the library if they do not know the needs of the community they serve? Understanding the needs of those with disabilities is a huge step in figuring out what ways the library can adapt their existing technology to fit these needs, as well as fitting assistive technologies into the budget to create a more accessible library space. 

Adaptive technologies, such as screen magnification, touchpad keyboards, or modified mouse/trackball rollers are some examples Burke gives in the article. Assistive technologies include Braille printers and other technologies, audiobooks, and creating the library website to be more accessible (Burke, 2013). Some individuals with vision impairments would greatly benefit from a library website that is up to standards for accessibility. Technology librarians, or those who create the website for the library may not realize how the website reads with a screen reader, and those with vision impairments may not be able to really use the library website effectively at all. I did more research on the website side of assistive technology and found a useful article about a study that was done on library websites and accessibility. The article, "Tending a Wild Garden," by R. T. Vandenbark, discusses how libraries should constantly keep up with new technologies for their web design to better serve all patrons. Before reading this article, I did not really think about the usability of a library website; but after reading the article, I found that there are so many factors that should be considered for those with disabilities. 

Assistive technologies in libraries are probably going to be ever-changing as modern technology progresses, and soon libraries will be able to serve everyone equally, even if this is a minor change at first, such as on the library website. Even just adding adaptive technology to existing computers or media could be a major benefit for those with disabilities. 

image: https://adamkrassconsulting.us/ 

Burke, J. J. (2013). Assistive-adaptive technologies. American Libraries, 44(11/12), 44–46.

Vandenbark, R. T. (2010). Tending a wild garden: library web design for persons with disabilities. Information Technology & Libraries, 29(1), 23–29. https://doi-org.ezproxy.palomar.edu/10.6017/ital.v29i1.3154

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