Accessibility from the Ground Up: Lessons from our First Year working towards Accessibility

Pacific University Libraries started a group to investigate accessibility in 2019. We want to share our experiences from our first year of accessibility work on library facilities, services, systems, and collections. We used our varied experience in collections, student success, and systems to progress with limited resources, time, and accessibility expertise. Our first year was spent getting an overview of all the accessibility regulations and best practices in order to figure out what would be appropriate for our institution. Pacific University enrolls about 4,000 students with locations in Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Eugene, and Woodburn, Oregon including a liberal arts undergraduate program and graduate professional schools. We hope to share our successes and failures so that other small libraries can start their own accessibility work.

Rachel Arkoosh is the Collections Librarian at Pacific University. She oversees the physical and electronic collections of the Pacific University Libraries. 

Josie Ragolia is the Student Success Librarian at Pacific University. She is in charge of the circulation, interlibrary loan, and tutoring services at both Forest Grove and Hillsboro campuses.

 
Laura Baird is the Systems & Applications Librarian at Pacific University. She administers the library systems and digital platforms.