The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) directs public and private libraries--academic, public, school, and special--to provide services to people with disabilities that are equal to services provided to citizens without disabilities. Six chapters in this book provide information to help library administrators and staff to fully understand the applications of the law and its regulations as they relate to their respective library situations. In Chapter 1, "Libraries and the Americans with Disabilities Act," Michael G. Gunde interprets and explains the Act from an administrative point of view and discusses the parts of the Act that concern employment, public services, and public accommodations and services provided by private entities. In Chapter 2, Ruth O'Donnell uses the six-step ADA planning model as a guide for planning for compliance with the law. She provides lists of important information resources; describes fully assistive devices for overcoming visual, hearing, speech, and physical limitations; and discusses self-evaluation methods for libraries. In Chapter 3, "The Impact of the ADA Upon School Library Media Centers," Marilyn Karrenbrock develops a historical perspective on legislation since 1828 that affects the education of children with disabilities, and addresses several situations where the ADA may have a direct impact on school library media centers. In Chapter 4, "The Americans with Disabilities Act: The Legal Implications," Peter Manheimer dissects the ADA from a legal point of view and applies it to library operations and situations. Job requirements, essential functions, reasonable accommodations in job functions, undue hardship, and disability inquiries are a few of the topics covered. In Chapters 5 and 6, "ADA Case Studies and Exercises" and "Problem Areas and A Quick Guide to the ADA," Donald Foos and Nancy Pack offer a series of hypothetical ADA case studies to illustrate the law and its applications, and provide insight into its extensiveness. Four appendices condense additional information on the ADA and related statutes and services. An index prepared by Joan Griffits is included. (BBM)