Video transcript

Built in 1842, the Brockville Public Library is a heritage building, originally known as the Carnegie Library, and a monument in the community as a result. Over the years, the library has grown and evolved right along with the needs of its visitors, who come in all ages and with varying abilities. And that means they’ve worked hard to improve accessibility of both their heritage building and services to ensure that every visitor can enjoy all the library has to offer.

“Thanks to all the renovations that were made,” says Margaret Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the library, “we have an accessible building for everybody.”

Accessibility at the library starts outside, with a ramp leading to automatic doors, or stairs with yellow markings on the edges to guide people with vision loss. On the inside, amongst smiling staff and a generous collection of books lining low shelves, you’ll find wide walkways, accessible washrooms and an elevator providing easy access to the second floor.

But the library also understands that it’s important to focus on more than just physical accessibility.

“We try to address accessibility from an information standpoint too,” explains Amanda Robinson, Information Access Manager for the library.

And they’ve done that by offering large print titles and talking books as accessible alternatives to their regular collection. They also have computers equipped with accessible software and keyboards. The software allows users to change font size and colour contrast on the screen, while the accessible keyboards have enlarged, yellow keys with black lettering that are easier to see.

And for anything else a visitor might need, knowledgeable library staff are there to help in any way they can. All of the staff, from co-op students to full-time workers, have undergone accessible customer service training so that they can assist any one of the library’s diverse visitors. Margaret and Amanda say that accessible customer service is really very simple when it comes down to it.

“We found that it’s not difficult,” explains Amanda. “It only takes a few small steps and listening to your customers in order to better serve them.”

And that type of commitment to service hasn’t gone unnoticed. One regular library visitor, Janet Jones, raves about the level of accessibility at the library and the service she receives there.

“The staff are just excellent,” she says. “They’re always so open to anything and how they can improve.”

But it’s not just Janet who’s noticed all that the library is doing to be more accessible — the Brockville Accessibility Advisory Committee recently gave the library an accessibility award for their commitment to excellent customer service, physical accessibility and a great attitude.

With the Brockville Public Library continuing to advance their knowledge of accessibility, library visitors like Janet are able to continue advancing their own knowledge too.

“Life-long learning is so important to everyone,” says Janet. “And they value it and find any way possible to make sure that people can keep learning.”