Flag with accessibility logo for MAKÜ Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Library

Under the auspices of the Presidential National Library, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Manisa Celal Bayar University, and the Turkey Barrier-Free Informatics Platform, the 4th Accessible Libraries Workshop was held with great participation in Ankara on May 12, 2025.

In the workshop organized to ensure equal opportunities in accessing information, the efforts to make libraries compliant with accessibility standards and to enable individuals with disabilities to access information resources without barriers were evaluated. Representatives from public institutions, academicians, library managers, and participants from non-governmental organizations shared their views and experiences on accessible library practices.

During the ceremony chaired by Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services Zafer Tarıkdaroğlu, an accessibility logo flag was presented to the Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Library for its successful efforts in the field of accessibility. The accessibility logo flag presented to Library and Documentation Department Head Kemal Gürhan symbolizes the determination and practices of libraries to provide accessible services for all individuals in both physical and digital environments.

Deputy Minister Tarıkdaroğlu emphasized in his speech that accessibility is not a privilege but a fundamental right, stating, “It is extremely important for all our public institutions to adopt accessibility as a fundamental principle to achieve our goal of an inclusive society. We are very pleased to honor the institutions that contribute to this goal here today.”

Library and Documentation Department Head Kemal Gürhan, who received the award on behalf of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, stated that they hope their efforts in accessibility will set an example for all university and public libraries.