Crash Course in Library Services to People with Disabilities

Persons with disabilities make up the largest minority group in the United States, accounting for almost 20 percent of the population. Aging baby boomers will only increase this number. Roberts (adult svcs. consultant, library development, Missouri State Lib.) and Smith (former director, Wolfner Lib. for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Jefferson City, MO) understand many of the issues facing both the disabled and the libraries that serve them. Their entry in the "Crash Course" series offers practical information on the wide range of disabilities a librarian may encounter. Included in the book are chapters dealing with assistive technology, serving older adults, mental disabilities, learning disabilities, basic facilities planning, and services to the visually and physically handicapped. In addition to providing overviews of these topics, the book includes examples of policies, services, and programs that can be easily adapted to fit either academic or public libraries. There are a number of work sheets to help evaluate a particular library and its services, and useful additional resources are listed throughout.