Outline

The Social Inclusion Audit and Toolkit is broken into four sections. All sections are available as a PDF.

Section I: What is social inclusion and why is it important?

Social audits are evaluation tools used in a variety of settings as a means of formalizing, informing, and guiding the process of removing barriers to inclusion in a comprehensive and structured manner.

Section II: The Audit Tool

The Audit Tool is comprised of 12 questions stated as outcome statements. By answering these questions, an institution will receive a score (0 – 4) that will provide an assessment of the library’s capacity to meet the requirements stated within the 12 social inclusion outcomes.

Section III: How to further the work of social inclusion

This section of the Social Inclusion Audit Toolkit is designed to provide supporting information and tools to help libraries develop or refine their inclusionary practices. This section is divided into 12 chapters based on the 12 outcome statements in the Audit Tool.

Indicators of Openness

As a first course of action, social inclusion work requires that libraries be open to understanding their community and engaging with them. They should also challenge the various barriers, values, and behaviours that lead to exclusion. This work is reflected in the questions in the audit that focus on “Indicators of Openness.”

Indicators of Intentionality

The second level of work required to remove barriers to inclusion includes continued engagement with the community, as well as the development, implementation, and evaluation of systems, programs, policies, and procedures. It also requires the provision of equitable access to services and decision-making opportunities. This work is reflected in the questions in the audit and toolkit that focus on the “Indicator of Intentionality.”

The concept of “intentionality” is critical to removing barriers to inclusion, CULC/CBUC’s social inclusion audit places emphasis on intentionality. A library’s ability to keep the topic of inclusion “on the table” by consistently integrating it into the strategic and operational framework of the organization is extremely important. It is also necessary to keep this work constantly on the minds of the board of trustees, staff members, and volunteers. Both will strengthen the library’s ability to effectively remove barriers to inclusion.

Indicators of Inclusion

The research that supports the development of the CULC/CBUC Social Inclusion Audit Tool asserts that if the library is effective at addressing the areas of focus in the indicators of openness and intentionality, then it will be better able to demonstrate inclusion through tangible, measurable outcomes.

Section IV: References and Appendices

This section contains the Audit Tool and the Survey and focus group results with analysis and suggestions.