By Lizzie Cope, ASERL Accessibility Working Group Member
The Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL) Accessibility Working Group on Library Spaces is proud to announce the release of a new resource aimed at fostering accessibility in hiring practices. The Accessible Hiring Conversation Guide is now available to assist your library in creating more equitable and accessible hiring processes.
This guide is a great starting point for conversations about your current hiring practices and offers practical advice and actionable steps to ensure that your hiring practices are inclusive and accommodating for all. It covers various aspects of the hiring process, from job postings to interview accommodations.
Accessible hiring is not just a matter of compliance; it’s about creating a diverse and inclusive workforce that benefits everyone.
Key features of the guide include:
- Job Postings: See how to write clear, inclusive job descriptions that attract a diverse pool of candidates.
- Interview Techniques: Tips on conducting interviews that are fair and accommodating, ensuring equal opportunity for candidates.
- Physical Accommodations: Ideas for creating a less stressful experience for candidates during in-person interviews.
- Advocating for Accessibility: Strategies for implementing accessible hiring practices.
The Accessible Hiring Conversation Guide is part of ASERL’s ongoing commitment to fostering a high standard of library excellence. By providing this valuable resource, ASERL aims to support organizations in building a workforce that reflects the communities they serve.
The guide was created by the ASERL Accessibility Working Group on Library Spaces which is a small group led by the ASERL Accessibility Interest Group and presented as poster session at the NASIG 2023 Conference. In addition to the feedback received during the poster session, additional feedback was sought from the ASERL Accessibility Interest Group members via the ASERL Accessibility Listserv and colleagues in libraries human resources. The resources consulted in the creation of the guide are included along with a feedback form for readers to share their resources, ideas, practices, and feedback to create future updates to the guide.
Want to learn more? Join The Accessibility Interest Group at our next Accessibility Water Cooler on September 17th to hear from others about accessibility at libraries.