Library and information center accessibility: The differently-able patron’s accessibility

This article explores library services and accessibility in public, school, and academic libraries from the perspective(s) of patrons who are differently-able. 1 For this study, five individuals, each of whom has unique experiences with disability and society, participated in in-depth interviews. Qualitative data analysis revealed the following themes: love for libraries and reading; disability as a socially-constructed phenomenon; physical limitations and barriers to library accessibility and services; technology and adaptation; and legislative compliance versus compassion. Through participants' voices, the study lends understanding to the “lived experiences” of library patrons who are differently-able and offers suggestions on how library accessibility may be improved.