Baldwin Library Partners with Project ALFA for Building Accessibility Evaluation

In support of the work being done by the Joint Library Building Committee to explore the future of the building, Baldwin has partnered with Project ALFA. 

Project ALFA is a partnership between the University of Alabama, Wayne State University, the Alabama Public Library Service, and the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services.

Five Project ALFA fellows will participate in Baldwin’s assessment under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Four students are enrolled at Wayne State University; one student is enrolled at The University of Alabama. The faculty advisor is a tenure-track faculty member at Wayne State University. 

“One of the goals of Project ALFA is the application of real-life experience through service learning activities. The partnership with the Baldwin Public Library provides an exciting opportunity to move from classroom theory to hands-on learning while assisting the Library in advancing access to information within the local community,” said Stephanie Maatta Smith, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at Wayne State University’s School of Library & Information Science.

The work of the group will focus on the review of the library building, its resources and technology for issues related to accessibility and universal access and design, and Baldwin’s ability to meet the needs of patrons with disabilities or who may have special needs.

The fellows will focus their efforts on an analysis of Baldwin’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). A benchmarking study with area libraries will also be conducted. Compliance with the American’s with Disabilities Act and guidelines from the United States Access Board and the American Library Association will guide their work. 

“We’re very pleased to have library access issues evaluated in such a comprehensive manner. That the project is being undertaken at no cost to Baldwin makes it even better for our service communities,” said Matt Church, Baldwin's associate director.

Project fellows will prepare a final report with recommendations for the library by November 2012. For more information about the Library building project, visit www.baldwinlib.org/library-building. 

—Courtesy of Baldwin Public Library