Librarian Problem in the library

[coolcats222]

I am a visitor at local community college library that is open to visitors.

Unfortunately I have very very low vision when it comes to read fine print (genetic, so high that even contacts/corrective lenses will not help). So given the electronic nature of things, I have to use two large monitors in order to get the font size right and get my work flow going. I have a roller-on that I bring it it in. I put them in a very secluded non-heavy traffic area of the library.

The library knows of my vision issue , I let them know on my first vision and asked their permission, but somehow they aren't happy with it and want me to leave. One of the other librarian handled it very poorly when she first saw me there recently and made inappropriate comments. I wrote a 5 page report, send it to the School's Office of compliance and nothing really went in my favor even though intiially they were sympathetic. They had a meeting with the librarian and it didn't go in my favor.
I want nothing more than sit down and do my work.

I need a place to study (I'm often there until it closes but no issues) , have not made any noise or distruped anyone.

This causing me a lot of anxiety b.c I need a calm peaceful place.
I'm thinking to just enroll in *any* course in the CC, go to their ada office, get accomodation for large print/large screen usage and then hopefully continue to use the library.
It's so frustrating and costed me a few days of low or no study...

Any advice, suggestions or input?

[al]

Hi coolcats,

I'm sorry to hear you're having this problem! When the librarians told you that they weren't happy with you, did they say what specifically about it they didn't like? It's possible that there's another explanation for what was happening (such as the library's policies about bringing in outside equipment, or concerns about something happening to their own technology)? It seems like you were doing everything you could to be respectful and not get in anyone's way.

Is there anyone else that you might be able to contact in the library who could help you out? Another librarian, perhaps? Or a general phone number or email for the library where you could ask questions?

[coolcats222]

Hi Al -
THANKS for ur answer.

If outside equipment isn't allowed, then others shouldnt be allowed to bring thier laptops or w/e right? I need it due to my eye condition.

The thing is that I don't want to know about any other policies. I just want a place to study and do work and not be bothereD.

I'm sure they can point to anything or make up anything that says this is not allowed - even if it's not explictly stated in the library policies.

I emailed the boss of the librarian's immediate supervisior but immediately regreat it. I am trying to sign up for a class at the college and get ADA approval.

deep breaths, breath away the negativity and try to get the most of the day

[Heather]

By all means, if a library or librarian is asking you to leave because of what you need for your disability or telling you you can't have the aids you need to use the library, that is likely totally outside the rights the ADA protects for you. I'm so sorry (and angry, on your behalf) that it sounds like you're being discriminated against in this regard.

Why do you regret sending that email? It sounds like an appropriate next step to me.

And what do you want to do as a next step? Do you want to just go back, defend your right to be there and use your needed devices and try and stand your ground? Or does this have you feeling too vulnerable or unwelcome, and would you rather focus on finding somewhere else to go, whether or not you try and work this out in the meantime?

These two resources may be helpful to you, as something you share with that library if you want: https://www.asgcladirect.org/resources/ ... ow-vision/ and https://libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/dl ... bility/ADA

[coolcats222]

Hi Heather and rest of supportive peeps here:

Thanks for your time in taking time to read and respond to this. That really means a lot.

My GOAL is to get through the first few days of the week and check my email for their response later on the week.

I wrote an email + 5 page report describing my condition+ pictures to the Office of Compliance and Institutial Equity of the Community college - they had a meeting and it didn't seem to go in my favor. THey told me that they will give a final response next week and looking for "alternative" places for me. I emailed the report and somewhat an angry email to the Big Boss and am afraid to check my email. I guess it's natural to be afraid if you are not used to standing up for yourself. I am also a person of color and the librarian made some comments that were addressed or taken as "I am a foreigner" type of thing. Not cool in the current policial environment. But the school grossed that over in typical beaurocratic fashion

The thing , this library is quiet, 8 mins away from my place and has all the things I need. The other places are too loud, not open long enough and so forth.

Last week, I could only study 20 hours b.c of the anxiety surrounding this and feeling unwelcomed.

Their excuse is that I am too much distraction for regular students, I am using too much space, etc --- I address all of that using picture evidence in email.

My plan is to sign up for a class at the community college ( a bogus class that i don't need) and meet with their campus ADA and get an accomodation letter. That should keep them hands-off me . my goal is just to use the library and nothing else.

[Heather]

I am so sorry you have been treated this way and put through this and that they're talking about your needs in this way. This is just inexcusable. And of course you feel scared: it'd be hard not to in this situation when you're being treated like this!

I'm having a hard time thinking of ways that we can help you more with this, but if *you* can think of any, please let us know and we will be on it. You deserve a space to study just like anyone else, and it's just not okay this is happening to you.

[al]

Hi coolcats,

Just popping in to say that if you felt like it, you could always reach out to the DOJ about the way that you're being treated, because it's definitely an ADA violation. Libraries that are open to the public (and especially academic libraries) have to provide access and support for people with all types of disabilities. You probably want to wait until you hear back from them, just in case they do decide to do the right thing, but if not, you definitely have grounds to file a complaint. You can do that online or by mail, using the info here: https://www.ada.gov/filing_complaint.htm

Also, as someone who truly hates waiting around to get important and anxiety-inducing emails, I just wanted to sympathize. Sometimes when I have to check my email, I have to actively hold on to my partner or my dog or eat a bowl of ice cream while I'm doing it, in order to have something grounding me. I'm hoping you have something like that so that it feels a little less nerve-wracking when you do get that email. <3

[coolcats222]

Great validation that I am not alone or unique in this and great tips to handle it <3

[coolcats222]

thanks Al and Heather.
I did call the DOJ, talked to their ADA specialist, who gave me good info and said I could file an online complain. I would rather meditate this with the library at the moment, but so far, I feel fine, OK, and will utilize Al's strategy for checking email

Keeping my study going!!!

[coolcats222]

Thanks Heather and Al.

Aside from the website info -- just having a place where I know there are people who are being supporting and validating my preception/needs is HUGE in toning down the anxiety/feeling of fear/impending sense of doom

I really appreciate that . It truly means a lot. I think their argument is that my screen is taking much too much space on the study table and that other students will feel intimidated by it . THere is plenty of empty tables same size where I sit and most students have seen a computer monitor and don't care and have no problem accessing the other study located in my vicinity and often students are not bothered and studying at the other tables/desks near me.

I am in lib today. I haven't checked the email. I will leave and be so so so polite if someone approaches me and tells me to go.

[Heather]

Amazing that they're talking with a person with a disability, and their concerns are about students WITHOUT one feeling intimidated, not about the person for whom using the library is far more challenging.

I'm so sorry, again. This is gross and ableist af. Would they say the same thing about someone's wheelchair or mobility device? UGH. I'm so glad you have a backup plan with the DOJ if needed, but it's preposterous you need to do any of this.

[coolcats222]

THANKS GUYS. I feel fine, not scared and just O.K! I can do this and have a plan no matter what happens.

I am amazed at how opening about and sharing this issue really helped me de-stress and see a new POV!

I had a really nice chat with one of the most sympathetic librarian who was very supportive and said sorry that we made you paranoid. She works in the evening not the day and not there every day.

I think it's an exercise in trying to spot when people are screwing with your mind. Actually--one out of 1/4 librarian in particular. Gladly I am in touch with school's HR ("Office of Compliance and Institutional Equity") ---not speaking to the librarian ------ and have support from the DOJ website I received from this site, so I'm feeling like I got back up

The HR hasn't come back to me with anything yet , hahaha, I think they have to very careful what and how they said anything

Some of the cricitism was that your monitor will intimidate other students, but my monitor is the exact same size that the school has in the library for use so it's nothing new. Then the issue was........ that your device has "a lot" of wires --and I think to myself --we haven't advanced the new technology for wireless charging, so devices will have wires to power.

Many students now use two screens to help their study work - like a tablet + laptop in the same library next to me, but they were asking me why I need to use two screens.

I think alot of this comes from lack of education about what a disability or accomodation is suppose to look like , and their view that this large screen is a luxury not a necessary for me to work/study for hours at end.

BIG THANKS ONCE AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND BEING AWESOME! WOW!!!!!!

[Heather]

It can be really hard to see discrimination when we've gotten used to it, and I think ableism, specifically, is very, very good at both hiding in plain site, but also at blaming the victim, as it were. We live in such a disability-unfriendly world.

I'm so glad you were able to have a talk with a supportive librarian. I'm also so glad that in this crummy experience, it sounds like you've found some newfound strength in standing up for yourself and your accessibility needs. That is GREAT.

[al]

Echoing what Heather said - while it sucks that you’ve had to deal with this ignorance and discrimination in the first place, I’m really glad that you’ve been able to feel more secure in your ability to advocate for yourself and find resources, coolcat. I think that makes you a very cool cat.

[coolcats222]

Thanks guys. <3 MUCH MUCH APPRECIATED -- *High five*
Al especially your tips about how to deal with anxiety provoking things - I checked the email --> nothing.

[Siân]

You're welcome !

We're here if you want to talk throuh any of this some more - sounds like you're doing all the right things!