Information about the background, roles and responsibilities of the Accessibility Advisory Committee.
To advise the Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) Director and MCPL Library Board members on increasing the value and accessibility of library services, facilities, on-line presence, and programming for individuals with disabilities.
MCPL desires and needs a long-term reliable source of support and advocacy for individuals with disabilities and their families/caregivers. The AAC was initiated by the MCPL Director, in cooperation with the Office of the County Executive, in response to a 2014 proposal by people who had been involved with the former Disability Resource Center (DRC) at Rockville Memorial Library from 2006 to 2015. The AAC was formed in 2015 to provide a more sustainable way to continue the MCPL director’s and staff’s precedent of engagement with people with disabilities.
That history of longstanding engagement includes State and Federal collaborations. The MCPL Special Needs Library (1981-2006) was a subregional branch of what was then the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH, now the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled) and provided Talking Book service to Montgomery County residents until it moved to the Rockville Memorial Library, where it continued until 2008, when it was transferred back to the Maryland LBPH. The Special Needs Library Advisory Committee and then the Disability Resource Center LAC provided systemwide disability awareness and public programs. The DRC LAC travelled to other branches as “The DRC Comes to You.”
The AAC differs from Library Advisory Committees in purpose, history, scope, membership, and relationships with the Director and Board. E.g., the AAC is an advisory group to both the Director and the Board on the entire library system; and the AAC includes members designated by various organizations that operate within the County for people with disabilities. Organizations benefit from membership on the AAC through partnerships with MCPL on AAC initiatives like programs and staff training. MCPL benefits from their experience and "best practice" ideas. Both the organizations and MCPL benefit from routine two-way communication that can reach both top levels of the library and those in the disability community.
The role of the AAC is to provide advice, proposals, and practical insights to the Director about matters of value or interest to people with disabilities such as:
The AAC may participate in advocacy on behalf of MCPL when appropriate.
The AAC works closely with:
The AAC may also engage with or seek participation from organizations like:
AAC members will represent a broad range of disabilities. Total membership is 12 to 15, which includes both individuals from the general public and staff representing local disability organizations.
All AAC members:
Individual members should live, work, or attend high school or college in Montgomery County.
Organizational members represent nonprofit organizations and agencies that have a demonstrated track record of providing services to and/or representing people with disabilities in Montgomery County.
To ensure broad representation of disabilities within the AAC's total membership of 12-15:
Long-term reliable AAC participation is often helpful in building the knowledge and relationships that further the AAC mission.
People who volunteer for AAC membership submit the AAC volunteer application online or call the telephone number provided on the form to have the form filled out by library staff. The Staff Liaison forwards the application to the full AAC membership. AAC members who wish to interview the applicant may do so.
The AAC Chair sends recommended applications to the Administrative Specialist in the Director's Office to be forwarded to the Director for Board approval.
New members learn about the AAC and the library system by taking the initiative to:
Members recuse themselves if they or their family members have an economic or fiduciary interest in the matter being considered. Their family includes siblings, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, a spouse, a spouse’s relatives, and the spouses of these relatives.
Members serve until a change is requested by the person, their organization, the MCPL Director, or the AAC through the MCPL Director. In the future, when a robust process exists for filling vacancies, term limits may be proposed to the MCPL Director.
AAC members who miss a meeting are generally expected to let the AAC Chair know the reason as soon as possible before the meeting. Organizational members are encouraged to find a back-up from their organization. AAC members who miss more than half the meetings during a year without contacting the AAC Chair will be considered to have resigned. The AAC Chair may waive this provision for good cause.
The AAC will meet at a minimum four times a year. Meetings are open to the public. Meeting dates and location or virtual access information will be on the AAC webpage (LINK) and the MCPL Events calendar (LINK).
In compliance with the Maryland Open Meetings Act, MCPL staff may not record meetings, but AAC members may record meetings. The chat feature will not be used during meetings.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, MCPL (through the County) will make available sign language interpreters and other interpreters and other effective communication measures if a person submits a timely request at [email protected], or 240-777-0016. Requests are needed with as much notice as possible. A minimum lead time of 3 business days helps the County to engage the most highly qualified interpreters for the job.
To the extent feasible, the meetings may take place at different branches for the benefit of committee members and branch staffs. Meetings may also be held virtually.
The AAC uses discussion and collaboration to guide its planning and to do its work. AAC decisions will generally be made in consensus and in consultation with the Staff Liaison.
AAC members will elect a Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary for one-year terms. Those elected take the lead to ensure that the responsibilities of the position are accomplished. They can and often do engage others in accomplishing the work.
At the September meeting the Chair will ask for 3 members who are not running for an office to form a nominating committee. They will take the names of those interested in running for Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary, and present the slate of nominees to the membership by email at least three weeks before the December meeting. Nominating committee members will manage the election at the December meeting. For those voting virtually, votes can be taken by having members use the raised hand icon or verbally state their vote. Those attending in person and those joining by phone would verbally state their vote. The Chair will inform the MCPL Director of the newly elected officers.
The AAC may form subcommittees, which may include people who are not AAC members. Subcommittees are chaired by an AAC member. Per the Maryland Open Meetings Act, if subcommittees or work groups are doing substantive work, consider posting the meetings and taking minutes.
Every 3-5 years, at the discretion of the MCPL Director or the AAC officers, the AAC members and the Director or designee may reflect together on the AAC’s work in context of its mission. This review may lead to strategies and goals to pursue, changes or improvements to make, updates to this document, etc.
Approved on June 7, 2023 Amended in accordance with the updated Maryland Open Meetings Act on August 17, 2023 Updated July 2024
