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Open Book Accessibility for Librarians

Librarian Responsibilities

Accessibility applies to various aspects of libraries and there are several points in the process of providing content to users where accessibility issues might arise, including:

  • static digital content files
  • proprietary platforms
  • websites
  • catalogues
  • end user devices
  • reader apps
  • print resources

Only some of this is within the control of librarians, and where any of these are true then librarians need to think about accessibility:

  • the content has been created or produced by them
  • they have made decisions on which content supplier to use
  • it is possible for them to easily provide an alternative format

Librarians are expected to:

  • Make resources produced by the library accessible

  • Evidence the accessibility of supplier content

  • Choose publishers, vendors and suppliers whose products meet accessibility standards

  • Provide alternative formats or support when a resource isn’t accessible

Make resources produced by the library accessible

Librarians produce various resources themselves, in various formats, where basic accessibility tasks within that format type must be completed. There may be automated checkers within the authoring tool that you can rely on.

  • Word documents
  • PDFs
  • Maps
  • Audio visual content
  • Course content and training materials

There are also other formats, while authored by librarians, where the accessibility is generally handled elsewhere. 

  • Websites, although these are part of wider organisational websites and will have centralised support
  • LibGuides, which will likely be on supplier platforms or an organisational website
  • Repository content, which will likely have an accessible version elsewhere

Evidence the accessibility of supplier content

Providing information about the accessibility of content to end users is a key service librarians can provide. There are various mechanisms available with which to do this, that are detailed below.

  1. Publisher declaration

 

(VPATs, statements)

  1. Metadata
  2. Certification
  3. External auditing LAA
  4. Self auditing

Organisations that check accessibility for you

Choose publishers, vendors and suppliers whose products meet accessibility standards

Platform accessibility, and how this isn't relevant for OA content

Book file accessibility

Variable accessibility - whole publisher or individual book level

Talking to small OA publishers about accessibility vs talking to the big 5

Investing in rather than buying/licensing content, what can they expect from that relationship

Provide alternative formats or support when a resource isn’t accessible

Responding to library user accessibility requests

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