Abstract
Public libraries are vital institutions for their communities, providing spaces for reading, listening, learning, studying, meeting, and playing that cater to a diverse range of ages and community needs. They provide community hubs, support access to information, digital inclusion, and cultural enrichment, and promote early literacy and education, social equity, job and career development, and cultural preservation. However, patrons and staff with disabilities face complex challenges in public libraries, including internalized oppression, labor dynamics, and the impact of microaggressions on their personal and professional experiences in addition to inconsistent accessibility of spaces, services, programs and events. These experiences resonate with the concept of dysconscious ableism—a pervasive, uncritical acceptance of ableist norms in societal mindsets and that distorts understanding and perpetuates exclusion in learning and information services. This study employs critical ethnography and critical discourse analysis, incorporating interviews with library staff and disabled patrons, as well as a review of library policies. It investigates how dysconscious ableist mindsets among public librarians shape the experiences of disabled individuals within library environments. Findings from this research offer strategies to disrupt dysconscious ableism in libraries. These include adopting inclusive, intersectional practices; challenging ableist assumptions; centering disabled voices; and fostering environments that prioritize accessibility, equity, interdependence, and autonomy. Further, by critiquing productivity norms and affirming the agency of disabled individuals, libraries can become more just and empowering spaces for all.
Presenters
William MyhillDirector of Disability Access; Adjunct Professor of Information Studies, Office of Diversity & Inclusion; School of Information Studies, Syracuse University, New York, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Library Studies, Disability Studies, Critical Ethnography, Critical Policy Analysis
