The Accessible British Columbia Act passed in June 2021, aims to identify, remove, and prevent barriers that impede the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in BC.
Key themes of the BC Accessibility Act:
- Breaking down barriers.
- Advancing human rights.
- Promoting fairness and equity.
Accessibility is a core value of public libraries, ensuring a strong core focus on promoting equity, diversity, access, and inclusion. The Fort Nelson Public Library, in accordance with the Accessible British Columbia Act, will focus on accessibility efforts to build awareness, develop skills, remove barriers, and establish accessibility principles that will be incorporated into future work.
In accordance with the Accessible BC Act, the Fort Nelson Public Library will work to develop:
- An accessibility committee
- An accessibility plan
- Feedback Mechanism
Please note that the plan is currently in draft and will be updated as we progress.
Our Library prioritizes accessibility and actively works to eliminate barriers for all community members.
Some of our accessibility features include:
- Our parking area has designated accessible parking spaces available.
- Our entry doors have handicap push plates to allow for easy opening.
- Our counter has a low section to provide easy access for wheelchair users.
- Our public computer stations are wheelchair accessible.
- Our Aisles are wide enough to accommodate individuals with mobility issues.
- Our public washroom is equipped with handrails for safety and support.
- We have wheelchair ramps outside our breezeway and between floors for easy accessibility.
- Communication boards throughout the Library assist individuals with speech or language impairments, allowing them to communicate more easily and effectively with others.
- Accessible keyboard options are available on our public computer stations for individuals with vision impairments.
Some of our current collections include:
- Audiobook collection
- Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA)
- Contactless Pick-up service
- Ebooks & Audiobooks to-go (Libby App)
- Interlink accessible collections
- Childrens Braille books
Accessibility Committee
To facilitate the work of the Accessible BC Act, the Fort Nelson Public Library has joined with the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and School District No. 81
Learn more about the Northern Rockies Accessibility and Inclusion Committee (AIC).
Our Accessibility Committee will help identify additional barriers and challenges for our 3-year plan. The committee will approach the Library and its services with an eye on the following:
- Inclusion
- Adaptability
- Diversity
- Collaboration
- Self-determination
- Universal design
Feedback Mechanism
If you would like to participate in the discussion or report any accessibility barriers you have encountered while accessing facilities, services or information, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at fnpl@fortnelson.bclibrary.ca.
Alternatively, you can complete this survey to provide your feedback. We appreciate your input and strive to improve our services to meet our community needs better.