Cornell University Library

Task Force on Services for the Disabled

Minutes from 4 June 1998

Present were: Stuart Basefsky, Nan Hyland, Carmen Blankenship, Katie Margolis

Recorder: Stuart Basefsky

The meeting took place at the Director's Conference Room in ILR/Catherwood Library from 3-4pm.

Discussed was the creation of a "Draft Outline" for developing recommendations and guidelines in providing library services to the disabled. The outline is designed to be a conceptual framework which needs to be filled in by the committee members.

Parts I and II will done by Stuart Basefsky.
Part III A. will be done by Carmen Blankenship.
Part III B. will be done by Katie Margolis.
Part III. C. will be done by Nan Hyland.
Part III. D. will be done by Janet Gillespie.
Part III. F. will be done by Katie Margolis. Parts IV. and V. will be done by Carmen Blankenship.
Part VI. will get preliminary review by Janet Gillespie and be discussed at our next meeting. Appendices were previously assigned.

The next meeting will be July 14th from 3-4pm in the same room. Below is the draft outline. Comments and suggestions are welcome from all parties concerned with these issues.

DRAFT OUTLINE-- Recommendations and Guidelines: Providing Library Services to the Disabled

I. General responsibilities of CUL, both endowed and statutory divisions
- A. Defining responsibilities of CUL to accommodate disabilities and limitations to accommodation
- B. Providing legal and responsible notice to the disabled about accommodation in the form of brochures, website information, and other appropriate means.
II. General responsibilities of disabled faculty, staff, students, and visitors who are in need of accommodation from CUL
- A. Defining responsibilities of the disabled who may need accommodation.
- B. How to provide legal and responsible notice to CUL about the need(s) for accommodation. What forms of communication can be used?
III. Common policies for all units of CUL
- A. Designating responsible contact persons at all units and for CUL in general
  1. Designate a "Primary Disability Contact Person" (and backups) who will be a liaison to Joan Fisher and the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO)
  2. Designate one person from each unit to be the responsible contact person for disability services and issues, who will be a liaison to the CUL Primary Disability Contact Person
  3. Designate one or more backup persons who will be responsible in the absence of the primary unity contact person
- B. List equipment appropriate for use by the disabled and specific disability(ies) available at the unit and inform the CUL Primary Disability Contact Person regularly about updates and changes in equipment.
- C. Training of all public service personnel for disability awareness and service will be the responsibility of the Unit Contact Person and coordinated by the CUL Primary Disability Contact Person
- D. A materials access policy for the disabled will be generated by each unit based on the unit's ability to accommodate disabilities. This may include provisions for the delivery of books on request or other means of providing access. Buildings and the nature of the material requested may dictate the policy developed. Whatever the result, this should be sent to the CUL Primary Disability Contact Person
- E. Creation and maintenance of a Library Service for the Disabled web page (see Univ. of Illinois model) is the responsibility of CUL with input from all units and coordinated by the disability contact personnel. Links from all appropriate Cornell Administrative and Service Unit web pages should be made at the request of CUL
- F. Signage Issues: Finding Common Ground [Need to be specific, such as requiring that every entrance and exit meet a certain standard. Whose responsibility is this? Who will pay or share the cost?]
IV. Responsibility of Primary Disability Contact Person
V. Responsibilities of Unit Library Disability Contact Persons
- A. Ongoing communication with OEO with the inclusion of the Primary Disability Contact Person
- B. Ongoing communication with the Primary Disability Contact Person
  1. Role in maintaining web site (see Illinois Model)
  2. Equipment available and equipment needs
  3. Training of public service personnel in unit
VII. Enforcement
VIII. Appendices
- A. Literature search on services provided by libraries in higher education
- B. Cornell Offices with responsibilities related to disabilities and their accommodation
- C. Library Kits and other library association information related to disability issues
- D. Associations helpful in establishing and monitoring accommodation needs of the disabled
- E. Contacts at the Federal, State, and Local levels for legal and regulatory information .

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rev. 6/10/98 peo