ABSTRACT
The National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) was created to address the limited availability of accessible-format materials for people with print disabilities (defined as mobility, cognitive, and visual impairments) in Canadian public libraries. The organization exists precisely because diversity of reading styles has not been integral to the production of reading material, and arguably, to the delivery of reading material in public libraries. The information environment for people with print disabilities has seen a revolution thanks to inexpensive and customizable technology built with open standards and inclusive design principles. This chapter reviews the history of library service to readers with print disabilities in Canada, positions NNELS’ philosophy and services within the larger disability theory framework and inclusive design principles, and lastly, provides recommendations for ways that LIS education might integrate accessibility into the core areas of librarianship.
