At the Library of Parliament, we take pride in supporting Canada’s parliamentary democracy as its trusted source of information and knowledge. Our employees provide parliamentarians with a broad range of products and services, including research, analysis and access to reliable and authoritative information. We also provide in-person consultation at five Library branches and make available extensive print and digital collections. We welcome the public to Parliament by offering guided tours, answering questions about the history and role of Parliament, and providing online educational resources about Parliament.
Accessibility is fundamental to how we serve parliamentarians, employees and the public. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, barrier-free environment where everyone can fully access and benefit from the Library’s spaces, services and resources. Achieving this requires a clear understanding of the barriers that exist. That is why we are actively identifying these barriers and taking concrete steps to remove them from both our workplace and the services we provide.
We have made meaningful progress, but there is more to do. Building on the achievements of our first accessibility plan, this next three-year accessibility plan serves as a roadmap for building a more inclusive and barrier-free Library. It outlines our main priorities and the actions we will take to achieve them. In developing this plan, we have listened to a wide range of voices, and we continue to welcome your feedback as we advance this important work.
Christine Ivory
Parliamentary Librarian
In keeping with the new standard issued by Accessibility Standards Canada, CAN/ASC - EN 301 549: 2024 Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services (ASC standard) which outlines accessibility requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) products and services in Canada, the Library ensures that
The Library’s accessibility plans are available on our website and can be requested in alternative formats, including:
All communications with the public are available in accessible formats upon request. Library employees are trained to respond to accessibility needs with sensitivity and efficiency.
In order to conform to the new ASC standard, the Library has implemented the requirements of that standard. The Library may not be able to conform if a product or service does not exist in an accessible format, but is necessary for Library operations. If this situation arises and creates an accessibility barrier, the Library will make the product or service available in the required accessible format.
For all accessibility-related inquiries, please contact the Library at:
Email: LopAccessibleBdP@parl.gc.ca
Phone: 613‑947‑7333
Toll-free: 1‑833‑411‑7845
You can also share your feedback about accessibility at the Library by completing our online form.
The Library of Parliament is committed to becoming a leader in accessibility. Our goal is to remove all barriers to accessibility by 1 January 2040.
We developed the Accessibility Plan 2025–2028 with input from persons with different types of disabilities. Consultations with employees, clients and the public took place throughout the development of the plan. This included identifying accessibility barriers and gaps, setting objectives and testing accessibility before the plan was published.
Building on the lessons learned from creating and putting into action our Accessibility Plan 2022–2025, this new plan outlines 41 objectives that will guide our next phase of action. Our first plan included 27 objectives. Twelve of them were considered ongoing; they have been rewritten and included in the new plan, many with new expected completion dates. As for the other objectives, eight have been completed, while seven are still in progress due to unforeseen circumstances. These seven objectives have been carried over into this new plan, with some changes. Details about the updated and new objectives are provided below.
Approximately 450 people work at the Library in different roles across its four service areas: Research and Education, Information and Collection, Corporate Services and the Office of the Parliamentary Librarian. The workforce includes both permanent and temporary employees, as well as students and parliamentary guides.
Develop an accessibility policy.
Expected completion: 2027–2028
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Develop an anti-ableism policy.
Expected completion: 2027–2028
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Develop an employment accessibility strategy and supporting policies.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Implement a system that allows employees and managers to document the support measures and tools they need to succeed in the workplace.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services
The Library provides a variety of services to employees, clients and the public, and it has offices in various locations within the Parliamentary Precinct and beyond.
The Library works closely with the Senate of Canada, the House of Commons, and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to make sure its spaces are accessible to everyone. PSPC is responsible for providing and maintaining these spaces.
Remove barriers and address the gaps noted in PSPC’s universal accessibility audits of Library spaces.
Expected completion: 2039–2040 with yearly progress expected including under this plan in 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education
Raise awareness about the accessibility features in the Library’s built environment and about services available in both employee workspaces and areas open to the public.
Expected completion: 2028–2029, with yearly progress expected, including under this plan in 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education
Review the Library’s emergency procedures with various partners with the goal of identifying barriers that persons with disabilities face.
Develop an action plan to remove any barriers identified.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
The Library makes extensive use of information and communication technologies (ICT). The Library has a strong online presence and is active on social media. Clients use digital platforms, like our intranet site and Self-Service Portal, to access e-collections, and Library products and services. The public can visit our websites to learn about Parliament, book tours of Parliament or shop at the Parliamentary Boutique. They can also view job postings and apply using our applicant tracking system. Library employees also use a variety of software and digital tools to do their work.
Conform to clauses 4 to 7 and 9 of the ASC standard in all public-facing and internal web pages published or updated after 1 June 2027.
Expected completion: 2027–2028
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education
Conform to clauses 4 to 7 and 10 of the ASC standard in any digital document made available to download from our public-facing web pages after 1 June 2028.
Expected completion: 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education
Provide mandatory training on the fundamentals of digital accessibility to all employees who develop, maintain or purchase digital technologies, in keeping with the accessibility requirements set out in the ASC standard.
Expected completion: 2027–2028
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Publish accessibility statements on public-facing web pages and mobile applications, digital documents available for download from the Library’s web pages or mobile applications and internal web pages, in keeping with the accessibility requirements set out in the ASC standard.
Expected completion: 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection
Develop a basic process for evaluating new ICT systems, hardware and software during procurement or development that determines whether they meet leading accessibility standards. Identify gaps, develop methods to remove barriers and make recommendations to senior management.
Expected completion: 2025–2026
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Conduct an initial review of the Library’s major ICT systems, hardware and software to identify known accessibility barriers and gaps, and to develop a recommendation plan for each of them.
Expected completion: 2025–2026
Responsibility: Corporate Services
The Library produces and publishes a large volume of information and resources for its clients. It also offers guided tours of Parliament and provides learning materials to help the public understand and engage with Parliament. Library employees take part in meetings and events, and they use various types of information and resources in their work.
Communicate the fragrance-free directive to employees.
Expected completion: Ongoing, with various activities in 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Adopt a plain language culture at the Library by offering training to all employees and sharing best practices.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Make sure all-staff meetings and events, and related materials are accessible to everyone.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Make sure all internal Library committee and working group meetings, and related materials are accessible to everyone.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Update the Library’s corporate templates to make sure they are accessible.
Expected completion: 2027–2028
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Promote accessible items available in the Library’s collection.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection
The Library procures goods, services and facilities in accordance with its internal policies and public‑sector financial and accounting rules.
Obtain an accessibility conformance assessment against the ASC standard for every product or service related to web pages, mobile applications and digital documents.
Expected completion: 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Purchase products and services needed for accessibility accommodations without undue delay.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Add a clause about the Library’s fragrance-free directive to all contracts with external vendors.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Ensure products purchased meet low-emission standards (no volatile organic compounds) and follow the guidance offered by Living Future’s Living Building Challenge Red List, UL Solutions’ Greenguard certification process and the Canada Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) process.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Make accessibility information a requirement in scope-of-work documentation in the procurement process.
Expected completion: 2025–2026
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Add a clause in contracts that requires the accessible delivery and implementation of goods, services and technical solutions. Ensure accessibility standards are taken into account in any update or change to these services or technical solutions.
Expected completion: 2025–2026
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
The Library provides programs and services to parliamentarians and their staff, the public and Library employees. This includes offering guided tours of Parliament, designing and delivering educational programs, and providing customized research and curated information, among others.
Implement processes to provide alternative services, and establish ways of delivering them to people with disabilities when standard methods are not accessible.
Expected completion: 2027–2028
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Implement procedures to follow during temporary service interruptions, whether planned or unplanned.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Provide mandatory training to Library employees on accessible client service.
Expected completion: 2027–2028
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Review the accessibility of Library products, programs and services aimed at external clients, and work to remove barriers and fill gaps.
Expected completion: 2028–2029, with yearly progress expected, including under this plan, in 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
Hold accessibility consultations with persons who have disabilities or with the Senior Project Coordinator, Accessibility, at the beginning of any project that creates or updates programs and services for clients and the public.
Expected completion: Ongoing, with various activities in 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education, Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
The Library offers services in several locations in and near the Parliamentary Precinct. Because employees interact with clients in different buildings, they sometimes need to travel between locations. Some employees also travel to other parts of Canada or abroad for work related to parliamentary committees and associations, or for conferences and training. Parliamentary tour guides and Teachers Institute on Canadian Parliamentary Democracy participants travel to Ottawa as part of the Library’s programs.
Review the accessible transportation options available to Library employees.
Build awareness of the transportation options among employees.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Review the Library’s Directive on the Management of Expenditures on Travel and Conferences to identify barriers.
Develop an action plan to remove any barriers identified.
Expected completion: 2027–2028
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Coordinate with appropriate partners to ensure that accessible drop-off and pick-up areas at the Library’s buildings are safe and well maintained.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Share information about accessible transportation and parking for clients, visitors and employees on the Library’s public and internal websites.
Expected completion: 2026–2027
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collection, Research and Education
Culture is not an official priority area in the Accessible Canada Act. However, to achieve its goal of eliminating all accessibility barriers by 1 January 2040, the Library recognizes that promoting a culture of accessibility is a priority area in which all employees share a commitment to long-term, sustainable change. By embedding accessibility into the organizational culture, the Library strives to create an environment where barrier-free practices become the norm and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility.
Offer annual awareness sessions for all employees on accessibility, barriers, inclusion and unconscious bias.
Expected completion: Ongoing, with various activities in 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Offer annual training sessions for all employees on accessibility, barriers, inclusion and unconscious bias.
Expected completion: Ongoing, with various activities in 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services
Celebrate and raise awareness of national and international commemorative days, weeks or months that focus on persons with disabilities or accessibility.
Expected completion: Ongoing, with various activities in 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services, Information and Collections, Research and Education
Create and maintain a training policy and plan for accessibility.
Expected completion: Ongoing, with various activities in 2026–2027, 2027–2028 and 2028–2029
Responsibility: Corporate Services
In keeping with the “Nothing without us” principle, consulting persons with disabilities has been and continues to be a key part of this accessibility plan. In February 2025, the Library consulted persons with various types of disabilities and their allies. Having sessions for allies allows employees with a disability who have not self-identified to participate in the consultations without having to identify in front of the group. Allies also include employees who have loved ones living with a disability and individuals interested in accessibility. Employees were invited to participate in group sessions or one-on-one sessions, or share feedback anonymously or informally.
A total of eight sessions were held: four in person (two in English, two in French) and four virtually (two in English, two in French), to ensure the process was accessible to everyone.
We also held consultations with parliamentary partners and clients, and with the public through working groups, advisory committee meetings and client satisfaction surveys.
The goal was to identify accessibility barriers in each of the seven priority areas identified in the Accessible Canada Act, plus the Library’s eighth priority area, and to hear about personal experiences and suggestions for improvements. The information gathered helped the Library create this accessibility plan. The plan itself was also reviewed during consultations with employees, persons with disabilities, parliamentary partners and others.
Overall, the people we consulted said that the Library is headed in the right direction to achieve an accessible environment, but more work is needed to fully remove barriers.
A number of those consulted viewed the Library’s first accessibility plan, launched in 2022, and the publication of progress reports as positive steps. These actions have helped bring accessibility into the conversation and into practice in different ways throughout the Library.
Many employees shared positive feedback about the various awareness activities offered by the Precinct Accessibility Working Group, a group composed of accessibility leads from the Senate of Canada, the House of Commons, the Library of Parliament, the Parliamentary Protective Service, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer and the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. In particular, the “Lived Experience” sessions and the “You Can’t Ask That” panels received high praise. Employees appreciated the diversity of speakers, their willingness to openly discuss their disability and the opportunity to ask questions and participate in meaningful conversations.
However, some Library employees are still hesitant to share that they live with a disability, because they worry it could affect their career. Others said that they do not request accommodations, for the same reason.
During the consultations, the most common barriers that employees identified were a lack of awareness about the tools and resources available on disabilities and accessibility, and gaps in the accommodation process. Many also felt that invisible disabilities are not well understood by Library employees.
In terms of the physical environment, persons with disabilities drew attention to heavy doors, missing or broken automatic door openers and limited access to washrooms.
A belief system that sees persons with disabilities as being less worthy of respect and consideration, less able to contribute and participate or of less inherent value than others. Ableism may be conscious or unconscious and may be embedded in institutions, systems or the broader culture of a society. It can limit the opportunities of persons with disabilities and reduce their inclusion in the life of their communities.
Source: Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Glossary of Terms.
The degree to which a product, service, program or environment is available to be accessed or used by all.
Source: Government of Canada, Glossary: Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada.
Anything – including anything physical, architectural, technological or attitudinal, anything that is based on information or communications or anything that is the result of a policy or a practice –that hinders the full and equal participation in society of persons with an impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment or a functional limitation.
Source: Accessible Canada Act, S.C. 2019, c. 10., s. 2.
The attitudes, behaviour, opinions, etc. of a particular group of people within society.
Source: “Culture,” Cambridge Dictionary, Cambridge University Press.
Learned and shared patterns of thought and behavior characteristic of a given population, plus the material objects produced and used by that population.
Source: “Classic Definitions of Culture,” Cultural Reader, blog, 19 March 2017.
Any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation, whether permanent, temporary, or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.
Source: Accessible Canada Act, S.C. 2019, c. 10, s. 2.
[I]nvisible disabilities may not be noticeable right away. They are also called hidden or non-visible disabilities. Invisible disabilities can be permanent, temporary or episodic. People with invisible disabilities also face barriers to inclusion. This could include having to explain why they need accommodation. Examples of invisible disabilities may include:
Source: Government of Canada, “Key definitions and concepts,” A way with words and images: guide for communicating with and about persons with disabilities.
The foundational principle of “Nothing without us” recognizes that persons with disabilities are equal participants in all areas of life. They should be involved in all decision-making on policies, programs, practices and service delivery.
Source : Government of Canada, “Nothing without us,” Consulting persons with disabilities.
Refers to the unconscious assumptions, beliefs, attitudes and stereotypes that human brains have about different groups. These learned mental short-cuts affect how we perceive and respond to people.
Source: University of Victoria, Unconscious Biases.
Universal accessibility is defined as the character of a product, process, service, information, or environment that, with equity and inclusiveness in mind, enables any person to perform activities independently and achieve equivalent results.
Source: J. Langevin et al., Research report for Montréal’s associative environments – Universal accessibility and contributory designs (version 5.3), Groupe DÉFI Accessibilité (GDA), Université de Montréal, quoted in Collectif A.U., “What is universal accessibility?,” Universal accessibility.