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Community Integration: Library Programming for Those with Intellectual Disability, Part 1

Join us to learn about the emerging movement in librarianship to engage those with intellectual disability (ID) who have previously been largely overlooked. Over two sessions, Leah Plocharczyk and Matthew Conner will discuss two intertwined case studies in academic libraries. They will then unpack the lessons they learned and how to apply it in academic, public, and school libraries.

In Part 1, Leah and Matt will go over the origins of their project and introduce the issues libraries face in working with disability, providing concrete examples about this kind of work.

Attendees can expect to:
- Understand the definition of intellectual disability (ID)
- Articulate the state of public education for ID and the role of post-secondary education
- Understand the history of library engagement with intellectual disability, including new grass roots initiatives

About our presenters:

Leah Plocharczyk is the Director of the John D. MacArthur Campus Library at Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) Jupiter campus and became a professional librarian at FAU in 2007. She has an MLS from the University of South Florida and an MA from FAU. Her publications include articles on library collaboration with marine mammal stranding networks and conflict management within libraries. She co-authored a book about the importance of library book clubs as educational tools for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Matthew Conner has an MLS, an MA and a PhD in English. He is the author of The New University Library: 4 Case Studies (ALA, 2014) and co-author of Libraries and Reading: Intellectual Disability and the Extent of Library Diversity (Emerald, 2020). He currently works as Student Services Librarian at the University of California, Davis where he serves as the subject liaison for the University Writing Program.

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Jan 25, 2023 04:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)