The importance of accessibility is affirmed repeatedly across the ALA core values of librarianship and the AASL Standards Framework (ALA Council, 2019; American Association for school Libraries, 2018). Our resources are “provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves” (American Library Association, 2019). It is deeper than ensuring the collection is physically accessible. AASL asks us to consider “what works, for whom, and under what conditions” as we work to “improve all learners’ opportunities for success” (American Association for School Libraries, n.d., #3). We must ask ourselves: How have we made our buildings, our collection, and services accessible? Who feels welcome here? Who feels safe here? Everything from marketing to collections to programming must center the rich diversity of our communities, especially those historically marginalized (American Library Association, 2018). Too many students still avoid the library; too many children still can’t find books that reflect their lives.

Through thoughtful analysis of community needs, we can design inclusive collections, programs, and policies that increase access in ways tailored to our community. An elementary school with a high number of Spanish-speaking families may need bilingual resources that create access to the math curriculum, while a middle school with a significant special education population may need an extensive collection of high-low texts and inclusive programming to create access to information, friendship, and community. We must also actively work to remove barriers, whether in physical accessibility of our shelves and events, linguistic accessibility with plain English and translated materials, financial accessibility with eliminating overdue fees, or sensory/social accessibility with policies that allow space for the rambunctious joy of early childhood or the stimming of an autistic teen. Access means everyone can connect to the information they need, as we support “life-long learning services to all” (ALA Council, 2019). Access means everyone belongs.

Joyful library experiences deepen this feeling of belonging. Creating joy can feel amorphous and impossible. Yet, when we plan with the foundations in mind (inquire, include, collaborate, curate, explore, and engage), we can find joy everywhere (American Association for School Libraries, 2018). Joy is connecting readers to books through book displays, books talks, and personal recommendations. Joy is two teens connecting over a mutual love for The Hunger Games or Star Wars fandom. Joy is children singing, banging on drums, and throwing colorful scarves during story time. Joy is a family of an autistic child being welcomed to story time with open arms. Joy is the look on a young girl’s face, a girl who has been dreaming about an American Girl doll, when she realizes she can check one out of the library before her next big sleepover. Joy can even be found as students formulate questions, sift through information, analyze and construct new ideas. This joy is how a young child falls in love with their library, or how the library comes alive once again to a teen. This joy is what must be centered to establish a school culture of reading, considered “the core of personal and academic competency” (American Association for School Libraries, n.d., #4).

Everyone belongs. Everyone has access to information and resources. Everyone experiences joy. When these values are met, we have magic. And libraries should always be magic.

Resources Cited

ALA Council. (January 2019). Core values of librarianship. American Library Association. Retrieved April 20, 2021 from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues

American Association of School Libraries. (2018). AASL standards framework for learners. Retrieved April 21, 2021 from https://standards.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/AASL-Standards-Framework-for-Learners-pamphlet.pdf

American Association of School Libraries. (n.d.). Common beliefs. Retrieved April 20, 2021 from https://standards.aasl.org/beliefs/

American Library Association. (January 2019). Library bill of rights. Retrieved April 10, 2021 from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

American Library Association. (June 26, 2018.). Services to people with disabilities: an interpretation of the library bill of rights. Retrieved April 10, 2021 from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/servicespeopledisabilities

Clip-Art Credit: ArtCreationDesigns. (2021). Book reader [Clip art]. Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/listing/873308639/watercolor-book-reader-clipart