Enhancing Digital Accessibility in Libraries

Strategies for Improving the User Experience at Every Level

Nora Burmeister, Content Strategy Librarian

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

nkburm@email.unc.edu

What is digital accessibility?

WebAIM’s WCAG 2 Checklist

2024 Federal Accessibility Mandate

State and local governments’ web content and mobile apps usually* needs to meet WCAG 2.1, Level AA within 2-3 years of April 24, 2024.

• The rule applies to web content (defined as defined as the information and experiences available on the web, like text, images, sound, videos, and documents) that a state or local government provides or makes available. This includes when a state or local government has an arrangement with someone else who provides or makes available web content for them.

*There are minor exceptions to this standard, detailed in the fact sheet and the full rule.

Levels of Control

Basic: �At the basic level, librarians may have limited to no control over the underlying structure and functionality of their digital platforms.

​

Mid-Level:�At the mid-level of control, librarians have moderate flexibility to customize and enhance their digital platforms.

​

Advanced:

At the advanced level, librarians have complete or nearly complete* control over their digital platforms.

​

Basic Control

Basic Actions

Content formatting

• Use clear and simple language in all digital content.
• Ensure text is formatted for readability with appropriate headings, lists, and spacing.
• Add alternative text (alt text) to images to describe them for screen readers.
• Link meaningful text

​

Accessible documents

• Provide accessible versions of PDFs and other documents by using tools to check and correct accessibility issues.
• Check for accessible color contrast on handouts & other documents.
• Create and share accessible document templates for creating new content.

Basic Actions: Keyboard Navigation, Screen Reader Testing & User Feedback

• Ensure that all content can be accessed and navigated using a keyboard, without requiring a mouse.
• Test content with screen reader software (NVDA is free and lightweight).
• Incorporate user feedback mechanisms, such as surveys or feedback forms, to identify and address accessibility issues. Collect results for awareness & advocacy.

Mid-level Control

Mid-Level Actions

Audio & Video Alternatives:

• Create or use video content with captions to communicate content to hearing impaired users.
• Provide transcripts for audio-only materials like interviews or sound recordings.
• If video or audio content does not allow for captioning or transcripts, provide accessible text alternative.

Mid-Level Actions

�Audit subscription content and advocate with vendors

• Using freely available tools and vendor VPATs (voluntary product accessibility templates), evaluate the accessibility of e-resources subscribed to by your institution.
• When accessibility issues are identified, reach out to vendors and request a timeline for remediation.
• At purchase or renewal time, contract language can be added to document agreement to comply with accessibility standards.

Advanced Control

Advanced Actions

​

Enhance Interface Accessibility

• Add Skip Nav link to website.
• Implement ARIA labels for screen reader users.
• Ensure focus indicators are visible on all elements.
• Use tools to check and remediate color contrast.
• Institute regular content audits to identify accessibility issues.

Advanced Actions

​

Review with Software

• Tools like SiteImprove automate accessibility testing.
• Manual testing needs can be assigned and documented.
• Common remediation tactics can be documented for streamlined replication.
• Issues can be easily examined and remediated or dismissed.

Strategies for All Levels

Training, Awareness, and Advocacy

Training

​

Provide continuous training for staff on accessibility best practices. Create opportunities to learn about and use assistive technology.

Awareness�

Engage with the accessibility community to stay informed about the latest trends and tools. Subscribe to newsletters and read articles to stay up to date.

​

Advocacy

Work within your institution to create conversations about reducing barriers for patrons users with disabilities.

Accessibility Evaluation Tools

WAVE checker

Browser extension allows you to check the accessibility of any website. Explains errors and suggests how to fix.

NVDA

Lightweight free screen reader to test the screen reader compatibility of content (Windows only).

Apple Accessibility

Accessibility tools for Apple products

​

Colorblind Web Page Filter

Enter your website and select a type of colorblindness to see how users might view your page.

Keyboard/Tab Navigation

The basics of keyboard navigation - make sure all content in your library website or digital tutorials can be accessed via keyboard alone.

​

VPAT repository

VPATs and accessibility reports for various library vendors, with date of update and vendor response

​