Bibliotecário como agente de inclusão: as práticas de acessibilidade para pessoas com deficiência em bibliotecas universitárias

Abstract

This study analyzes the role of librarians in promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in university libraries, emphasizing the importance of accessible informational mediation and institutional practices aimed at democratizing access to knowledge. It first discusses accessibility as a right guaranteed by the Brazilian Law for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (Law No. 13.146/2015) and as an essential condition for the full participation of all students in the academic context. The librarian is then presented as a strategic agent of inclusion, with responsibilities that involve adapting materials, assisting users, implementing assistive technologies, and fostering welcoming environments. The literature indicates that the continuous training of these professionals is essential to adequately meet the specific needs of users with disabilities, as their work directly influences these students’ autonomy and permanence in higher education. The study also highlights the main challenges faced by university libraries, including limited institutional training, scarce resources, attitudinal barriers, and uneven implementation of public inclusion policies. According to authors such as Sassaki and Targino, the consolidation of inclusive practices depends not only on eliminating physical, communicational, and technological barriers but also on promoting cultural transformation within the academic community. The study concludes that strengthening librarians’ professional practices, combined with consistent institutional policies, is fundamental for building truly inclusive libraries capable of ensuring equal opportunities, full participation, and democratic access to information for persons with disabilities.