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Reading & ChangeThis talk addresses issues surrounding plurality and inclusiveness in the

organisation and resourcing of libraries. It will provide opportunities to

review practice and suggest some strategies for making libraries truly

inclusive of all children.

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Inclusive Libraries

• Libraries provide children with a vast resource of

knowledge whereby they can access books, newspapers,

journals and digital formats.

1: ALL children should be able to see themselves

2: Children with disabilities.

3:Thereby, through a library we can make a substantial

impact on the education of all children.

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Why is Inclusion Important?

• By making libraries accessible and inclusive, we will not

only address the needs of children with disabilities, but

support all children.

• We need to be aware of diversity in all its forms,

including issues relating to culture, gender, disability,

age, sexual identity, family structure and socio-economic

background.

• Activity. “How do you decide which resources to include,

and which to exclude”. Discuss this with a colleague.

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How can we make an Inclusive Library?

• We must make sure that we don’t see this as simply an

accommodation issue. We need to think about wide-

ranging changes to the library so that it facilitates the

‘presence, participation and achievement’ of all children

• Activity. Discuss this with a colleague the elements that

are essential to creating an inclusive space: for example,

Part of a strategy

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Six elements

• Part of a strategy

• As a potential for training

• Facilitates constructive relationships

• Exploits existing resources e.g expertise

• Environment

• Communication

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Strategy

• With the help of the disabilities act of 2010, libraries

should be starting points to help all children reach their

goals.

• The Disability Discrimination Act (April 2005) includes a

new duty on public bodies, including primary schools, to

actively promote disability equality. The Disability

Equality Duty (DED) is not only about changes to

buildings or making adjustments for individuals, it is

about weaving equality for disabled children and adults

into the culture of schools in practical ways.

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Potential for Training

•Staff expertise.

•Perceptions.

•Conscious and unconscious

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Relationships

• Hopefully the changes currently being experienced

by libraries will encourage librarians to look for

new ways in which they can engage their users.

• Readers can help disseminate ideas and encourage

further changes in libraries.

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Resources

• Links.

•Magnification • Colour contrast

• Adaptation

• Choice .

• Books in different formats/languages

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Environment

• Physical:

• Bright colours and interactive displays.

• Space

• Shelves

• Labelling

• Visual

• symbols and pictures

• Pictorial guide

• Audio

• Listening post

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Communication

• Signage

• Needs gap

• Training

• Bespoke services

• Promotion

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