Universal Design for Learning in Academic Libraries:: Theory into Practice

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework for improving and optimizing teaching and learning. It’s focused on intentionally designing for the needs and abilities of all learners—putting accessibility into the planning stages instead of as an accommodation after the fact—and providing flexibility in the ways students access and engage with materials and learning objectives.
 
In four parts, Universal Design for Learning in Academic Libraries: Theory into Practice explores UDL:

• Theory and Background
• In Instruction and Reference
• Behind the Scenes
• Beyond the Library 

Chapters include looks at UDL and U.S. law and policy; working with student disability services to create accessible research services; UDL and the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education and the Reference and User Services Association’s “Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers”; making open educational resources equitable and accessible; and much more. There are lesson plans and strategies for the wide range of instructional activities that occur in academic libraries, including in-person, online, synchronous, asynchronous, and research help, as well as different types of academic library work such as access services and leadership.
 
Universal Design for Learning in Academic Libraries can make learning about UDL and implementing it into your work quicker and easier, and provides ways to become an advocate for UDL inside your library and across campus.

Danielle Skaggs has authored several book chapters and currently serves as journal co-editor for Pennsylvania Libraries: Research & Practice. She is coming to Universal Design and UDL from a strong background in accessibility work, including teaching an ACRL e-learning course on creating accessible video tutorials.
 
Rachel McMullin is the co-author of Supporting Students on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Guide for Academic Libraries (Libraries Unlimited, 2019). She was the main author of the instruction chapter, which incorporated the Universal Design for Instruction framework. Her current research is focused on applying UDL to the library instruction one-shot and has submitted a chapter proposal on the topic to the forthcoming ACRL book Exploring Inclusive & Equitable Pedagogies: Creating Space for All Learners.