In between my poster sessions this afternoon, I made a mad dash to room 175 to see my new friend Courtney Walker present her session on Affirming Inclusive Library Services. While I have seen Courtney share about her Libraries For All initiative previously, her session at #alaac26 dove deeper into how to equitably serve patrons with significant disabilities in school libraries.
Courtney highlighted collaboration as the key to success as a school librarian. Working with special educators on her campus, she was able to find support to make the library experience more intentional for the students with disabilities in her school. Courtney also dove into other areas of how to adapt the space and library lessons to become more accessible. My biggest takeaway from this session, though, was her description of how she did book selection in her library.
Courtney strongly advocated, both in her position as a school librarian and during her presentation today, for students to be able to select their own books. While some students in school settings are able to walk through the library space, browse the shelves, and select a book or two to take home, some students may need adaptations to participate in this process. Courtney’s tips for adapting book check out included:
- Number of choices – Not all students can look at a wide selection of books and identify which they’d prefer. Some students may become overwhelmed with the number of choices, or may not even know where to look. Check with the student’s teacher to find out how many choices are reasonable, or use your best judgment. For some students, two books may be the best option.
- Following student interest – If you know a student really loves books about rhinos, then make sure those are included in the options for that student! This means getting to know the student’s interests on a personal level, although their teacher may have some ideas to get you started.
- Allowing the student to select their own books – This could involve adapting the way that a student communicates their choice to you. They could use “eye gaze” by looking at the book that they want, or they could even use a communication device. Knowing the student and their abilities is the best way to adapt this process, and it may be different for each student.
Courtney shared some other amazing adaptations that she offered her students. If you’re interested in learning more, you can check out her recent publication!
Image courtesy of author.
Annaliese Melvin (she/they) is a children’s librarian at a neighborhood library in Washington, D.C. Originally from Pennsylvania, she moved to the DC-area in 2020 to become a special education teacher after graduating with her bachelor’s from Arcadia University. In 2023, she graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a master’s degree in Library and Information Science and transitioned into the library field. Annaliese currently works to bring more inclusive programming to DC Public Libraries for children of all ages. She is passionate about equity, inclusion, reading, and Philadelphia sports.