April 12-18 is National Library Week! Started in 1958, National Library Week is an observance that celebrates our nation's libraries and their employees while promoting library use and support. This year the American Library Association (ALA) stresses how libraries are more than just books, and highlights how libraries offer access to the tools and technology needed by their communities.
For people with disabilities, libraries offer resources in many different formats. From publications in braille and large print to special playback equipment and DVDs with audio descriptions, your local library is a great place to find learning tools for your journey to employment.
More specifically, libraries can help people with disabilities:
• Find skills training resources
• Access books and magazines of local interest, for those who cannot use regular print material
• Borrow braille and audio materials by mail for free (eligibility rules here)
• Learn more about a career field and potential employers in the industry
If physically getting to a library is a challenge, resources can also be found through Bookshare - an accessible online library just for people with disabilities.
Have you accomplished or created something great through your local library? In honor of National Library Week, share your creation on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the #librarymade hashtag. Visit the ALA's #librarymade site for more information.
