A Missed Opportunity: Increasing the Use of Inclusive Library Programs and Practices

Abstract

Libraries are meant to be welcoming places, offering a multitude of supports for the community, families, and young children. Given that libraries should reflect the fabric of a community, it is vital that all children and their families feel welcome at the library, and have meaningful access to the resources that libraries provide. This includes young children with disabilities and/or developmental delays (YCwD/DD) and their caregivers.

Public library spaces and programs are usually designed to be accessible to all members of the community. As a result, there is reason to believe that libraries possess many of the essential tools needed to make their resources accessible to YCwD/DD and their caregivers. As part of an ongoing multi-state research project focused on ways that libraries support YCwD/DD and their families, we conducted focus group interviews with early intervention service coordinators in three Midwestern states to learn about their perceptions of libraries, including what libraries do well and how they can improve services for this population. Topics these practitioners mentioned included more visible inclusive programming for YCwD/DD and their caregivers, training and professional development to equip librarians to work with YCwD/DD and their caregivers, and intentional collaboration between children’s librarians and other community members to support the needs of this population. Below, we draw on this data in offering recommendations for how children’s librarians can meet the needs of YCwD/DD and their caregivers.