RLI 281 Research LibrariesS and IndDividuals with Print DisabilitiesS 21 DECEMBER 2012 RESEARCH LIBRARY ISSUES: A QUARTERLY REPORT FROM ARL, CNI, AND SPARC persons who are blind.”44 Libraries can also request (or require, if need be) that prospective vendors complete a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) form for their product to document in detail the extent to which their product complies with Section 508. Although VPAT forms are non-binding, they do provide a communication tool for libraries and vendors to talk about accessibility issues at a granular level. Compliance with Section 508 is required, but there is no substitute for reasonably proficient user testing, preferably by a person with print disabilities who is an typical user of her selected assistive technology. Several universities have protocols by which their disability services offices evaluate any software whose acquisition is being contemplated. Even in cases when vended products are not fully compliant, VPATs can be a useful tool for encouraging vendors to establish accessibility roadmaps for their non-compliant or partially accessible products. Library Website Accessibility Research libraries, indeed all of higher education, rely upon the web to present and make available extensive amounts of information and instructional e-content. The degree to which websites are accessible varies greatly from institution to institution. Most research libraries provide access to information resources online through a library-managed website presence. The typical library website includes a mix of library resource discovery tools, subject guides, links to licensed electronic resources, and information about library services. Standards exist to improve the accessibility of web content for people with disabilities. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) develops guidelines and provides resources for web publishers to improve web accessibility. The W3C WAI website includes a wealth of information on the topic of web accessibility, including specific standards such as the internationally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standard. Library administrators are strongly encouraged to assess and create a plan for improving the accessibility of their library website and supporting web applications. To gain more clarity on current practice and opportunities to make websites more accessible, the US Department of Justice issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 2010 regarding accessibility of information and services on the web.45 The DOJ intends to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning website accessibility based on comments filed in 2012. In several settlements, DOJ has required places of public accommodation to comply with WCAG 2.0 AA standards. Electronic-Book Readers The recent explosive growth in popularity of portable e-book readers in the consumer marketplace has led many libraries to consider lending e-book devices as a service. E-book readers can vary greatly in terms of their support of accessibility features. The most accessible devices include screen magnification, text-to-speech functionality, and navigation features enabling individuals with print disabilities to access the content natively. The pairing of accessible e-book formats with accessible reading devices is key. E-book accessibility may involve as many as three different considerations: the accessibility of the content, the accessibility of the reading platform, and the accessibility of the device. Thus, even if the
Previous Page Next Page