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Accessibility

The ALA promotes policies that serve all people and provide information resources, supporting the principles of universal design, both for information technology and for libraries' physical presence in buildings.

Visit Maine State Library Services for People with Disabilities

New technologies for libraries can either open doors for people with disabilities or close them. New online databases can offer quick resources or frustrate some whose assistive technology software isn't compatible. Libraries can digitize more documents for better global access or lack an understanding that scanning written documents as images blocks text to speech devices from reading the resource.

Being proactive

Libraries can understand the Americans with Disabilities Act - ADA- and follow web design standards and regulations. Librarians can adopt voluntary standards, following Section 508 or using W3C's guidelines to improve accessibility to online information.

Libraries are moving to be entities of digital storehouses of information but must be proactive in ensuring they follow principles of universal access for all users.