Employment of disabled persons in the academic library environment

Abstract

Academic libraries are the cornerstones of universities in providing information resources for the students and staff of the university. Indirectly, they may be instrumental in the development of beliefs and attitudes regarding the employment of disabled people. In 1998, the Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted a study into the status and wellbeing of disabled people, including employment restrictions. The percentage of the population who are disabled had risen from 15 per cent to 19 per cent in 17 years and half of these are unemployed or have restrictions on their employment.