Welcome new and returning iSchool students to the Spring 2024 Semester! ALASC is thrilled to announce the theme of the semester–accessibility and equity.
Libraries have long been regarded as beacons of knowledge and community hubs, welcoming individuals from various walks of life. At their core, libraries champion equal access to information, resources, and opportunities. Our commitment to accessibility is rooted in providing resources and services that cater to the diverse needs of our users, ensuring no one is left behind.Â
This semester, ALASC will explore different aspects of accessibility and equity in libraries through our events, initiatives, and blog posts. We will delve into how library professionals and students are actively working towards making libraries more accessible, equitable, and, ultimately, more impactful for all members of our communities. Whether through assistive technologies, services for those who are homebound, collaboration with social services, community partnerships, language services, or other innovative approaches, librarians consistently find diverse ways to engage with community members and ensure that their services, resources, and spaces are accessible to everyone, irrespective of their background, abilities, or circumstances. It is also important to acknowledge the challenges, such as constraints in funding or staffing, which can pose hurdles in the pursuit of accessibility and equity. We hope that through discussions of these challenges, we can collectively discover solutions and surmount these obstacles.
Once again, we wish you a warm welcome to the Spring 2024 semester! We are genuinely excited to connect with you throughout the semester, so keep a lookout for our upcoming events! Comment on this post on what kind of accessibility and equity topics in libraries you’d like to see us focus on this semester!