Week 15: Final Reflections

Have 15 weeks gone by already? This student finds that time feels as though it moves faster than ever. After browsing through my previous discussion board and blog posts, assignments, and SWOT analysis project notes, I have noticed a shift in attitude toward aging and people with disabilities between the writing of my initial assumptions about aging and people with disabilities to this last journal reflection post. My initial assumptions were strongly based on negative personal experiences growing up with a parent with a disability. At this point, my revised assumptions are now based on a more positive attitude toward aging and people with disabilities.


The activities and assignments for this course led me to choose a topic related to universal access for my research proposal assignment in another course. My research proposal explored the attitudes of public and academic library staff toward patrons with physical and mental disabilities. One of the most important things I have learned over the past semester is the significant role library or information agency staff attitudes play as an invisible barrier to accessibility for all. A library can have a stellar universal access policy and accessibility services strategic plan in place, but if library staff have a negative attitude or hold stereotypes toward aging adults and people with disabilities, then the chances of that library providing quality universal access services are slim. It is vital that LIS education provide courses on universal access, and that libraries and information agencies provide their staff with attitudinal trainings and workshops.

This change in attitude is what I will bring to my current workplace and my future position as a professional librarian. My view of the information professional has expanded from simply one who helps connect others to information to one who meets the information needs of every population, and the information professional must have a positive attitude toward aging adults and people with disabilities in order to fully live up to their role as a professional. After all, the library is the last place in the world where information seekers should face barriers of any kind.