The Libraries Serving Persons with Print Disabilities (LPD) Standing Committee has published the Guidelines for Inclusive Library Services for Persons with Print Disabilities—the result of several years of collaborative work and a significant step forward for inclusive librarianship worldwide.

Inclusion and accessibility are not optional extras for libraries; they are core democratic responsibilities. Equal access to information, education, and culture is a fundamental right, anchored in international frameworks such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. When physical spaces, digital services, or media formats are inaccessible, libraries risk excluding entire communities. Addressing these barriers is therefore both a matter of rights and of institutional credibility.

Libraries serve increasingly diverse populations. Providing accessible collections, inclusive digital services, and barrier-free programs is a powerful investment in equality, participation, and social cohesion. Accessibility strengthens libraries as trusted public institutions and ensures they remain relevant for everyone.

The LPD Guidelines offer practical, actionable guidance for libraries of all types. They cover accessible physical and digital environments, inclusive collections, assistive technologies, and formats such as braille, large print, audio, and accessible digital texts. Grounded in Universal Design and the right to read, the guidelines support libraries in taking concrete steps to address the needs of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, dyslexic, or physically unable to read standard print in service planning and delivery.

An accompanying infographic and further outreach and training activities are currently in development to support implementation and visibility of the Guidelines. For questions on the Guidelines, please contact Danielle Miller at [email protected].