The Inclusive Services Assessment and Guide

We all know libraries and their services are supposed to be available to everyone. It’s even in Wisconsin law that public libraries have to be accessible to people with “special needs.”

But how can we predict which special needs we need to accommodate? … or which unique combinations of barriers and assets people will need us to address?

The Inclusive Services Assessment and Guide for Wisconsin Public Libraries is meant to be your roadmap for these issues. To see what we mean by this, watch this short video about how one library navigated inclusive services.

As you can see from the video, inclusion is not a one-size-fits-all concept, nor a complete-and-move-on challenge. The checklist and supporting resources found in the guide are meant to help individual libraries evaluate current services as well as plan for the future.

The Inclusive Services Assessment and Guide was designed by Wisconsin public library and system staff for Wisconsin public library directors, staff, and boards with the intent to foster inclusive library environments where everyone is safe, welcomed, and respected. This resource was developed to support libraries in implementing the Inclusive Services Statement. In addition, this resource intentionally complements the 2018 Wisconsin Public Library Standards.

For more information, visit: https://dpi.wi.gov/pld/inclusive-services 

Written by: Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
Public Library Development Team