Accessibility of Web‐based library databases: the vendors’ perspectives
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830310494535 |
| Date | 01 September 2003 |
| Published date | 01 September 2003 |
| Pages | 347-357 |
| Author | Suzanne L. Byerley,Mary Beth Chambers |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Accessibility of
Web-based library
databases: the vendors'
perspectives
Suzanne L. Byerley and
Mary Beth Chambers
Introduction
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
established access to programs and services as a
legally enforceable civil right in the USA.
Initially, the ADA was mainly concerned with
access to buildings. However, in this day and
age of electronic resources, access to programs
and services extends beyond the physical
environment and includes the electronic
environment as well. Institutions making
information available electronically must ensure
that this information is accessible to all,
including those with disabilities. In most cases,
the easiest way to accomplish this is by
designing the electronic environment so that it
is free of access barriers. Recognizing this, an
increasing number of colleges and universities
around the nation have been adopting
accessible Web policies. Web-based resources
have become the norm in most libraries today,
but what assurances do librarians have that
proprietary databases are ADA compliant?
In 1998 Congress amended Section 508 of
the Rehabilitation Act to strengthen provisions
covering access to information in the federal
sector. The Access Board, a federal agency, was
charged with developing specific criteria and
standards that cover Web-based information
and applications, and defining product
accessibility for persons with disabilities,
including persons with vision, hearing, and
mobility impairments. Thanks to the Section
508 amendment and the Access Board
Standards, which went into effect in 2001,
today's online database providers have a strong
incentive to design barrier-free products
(assuming that they wish to sell their products
to the government). This federal incentive,
combined with an increasing demand for
accessible products within the (non-federal)
educational sector, would suggest that vendors
of online information resources now have
greater incentive to build accessibility into their
products and to highlight accessibility in their
marketing efforts.
Literature review
The body of literature covering Web page
accessibility for persons with disabilities has
The authors
Suzanne L. Byerley is Librarian/Assistant Professor and
Mary Beth Chambers is Librarian/Assistant Professor, both
at the Kraemer Family Library, University of Colorado at
Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, USA.
Keywords
Surveys, Disabilities, United States of America, Libraries,
Database management systems, Information facilities
Abstract
Accessibility, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) of 1990, pertains to accessibility of online
environments as well as physical environments for persons
with disabilities. Web-based resources are prevalent in
libraries today, but are they accessible? An e-mail survey
was used to examine accessibility of Web-based abstracting
and indexing services from product providers' perspectives.
Company representatives were asked to address overall
product accessibility, company compliance with Section 508
Standards, and product usability for persons with disabilities.
Findings indicate that the ADA and Section 508 are raising
database company awareness of accessibility issues. Still,
companies can do more to assure product accessibility.
Electronic access
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
347
Library Hi Tech
Volume 21 .Number 3 .2003 .pp. 347-357
#MCB UP Limited .ISSN 0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830310494535
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