Summertime is funtime!  We get to do things we don't normally do, go to camp, go swimming, see our friends, hang out at the library and make some crafts. Right?  Unless we are neurodivergent or have a disability or just struggle to fit the mold.  Then we have to worry “will I be able to do it?” “will it be too noisy? “too sticky?” “too slow?”  Now is the time for library staff to think about welcoming everyone to unearth their stories at the library.  A few simple considerations like Universal Design for Learning and  sensory awareness can open your summer up to people who are sometimes overlooked.  Get practical tips and new paradigms for your library programs so you too can be inclusive.  Let’s make library programming this summer work for everyone!

Carrie Banks is a distinguished leader in the field of inclusive librarianship and currently serves as the Supervising Librarian for the Brooklyn Public Library’s (BPL) "Inclusive Services," a nationally recognized program for children with and without disabilities. Throughout her career, she has been a tireless advocate for accessibility, developing innovative services that ensure the library remains a welcoming and equitable space for all patrons, regardless of physical or cognitive disabilities. Her expertise in adaptive technologies and inclusive programming has made her a sought-after consultant and educator within the global library community.

Beyond her work at BPL, she has held influential leadership positions within the American Library Association (ALA) and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), contributing to the development of national standards for accessible library services. She recently published Library Programming for Adults with Development Disabilities, Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline: An Action Guide for Libraries, and Libraries and Gardens: Growing Together?