From: Paoshan Yue <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:20:36 +0000 Subject: RE: Accessibility of licensed databases? Greetings, I received two direct responses, pasted below. (The authors are ok with posing them on the list.) I also posted the same question on the ERIL listserv and the discussion is not over yet. If you are not on the ERIL list and would like to know what’s shared there, email me off-list and I will send the email thread to you when the discussion is over. So far, we have just done some preliminary research and networking with our Disability Resource Center (DRC) on campus. DRC suggested that we begin by asking our vendors for their VPAT (voluntary product assessment tool) form. Then they (DRC staff) can help us evaluate those forms and examine our online resources (mostly by using JAWS software). This sounds like it will be a big help to us. We will find out more as we continue to work on this project. * Amy Dumouchel @ Boston College: “I did some of this at my previous institution. The LibGuide with my documentation is still up, including a list of databases that claimed to be either in compliance with ADA requirements for screenreaders, or met the W3C requirements -- most international ones looked to the W3C instead of the ADA. Hopefully it is of some use to you as a starting point: http://suffolk.libguides.com/content.php?pid=321027&sid=2627737 This project was prompted by complaints of a specific student regarding the usability of our resources with screenreaders. He did also comment "compliant does not necessarily mean user friendly."” Paoshan’s follow-up question: How long did it take you to prepare that guide? Amy: “I do not entirely remember, partly because it was some time ago, and partly because I did it in parts. I began by creating a spreadsheet of our database vendors, and searched for online statements about accessibility. If I did not find one, I contacted them. That part was somewhat intermittent, but took maybe a day or so of real work. After we met with the Office of Disability Services, it was decided that making public lists would be helpful, and that was where I took the data in my spreadsheet and converted it to a Libguide. I think the construction of the Libguide then probably added up to one full work day, spread across roughly one week.” * Karry Jones: “You might want to contact the Disabilities Coordinator or Disability Services (or some such title) at your institution. They might already have this info, or they can post to the disabilities listserv (assuming they subscribe to them) with this question and I bet you'd get some good responses there. Good luck!” Regards, Paoshan -----Original Message----- From: "Whithaus, Rhonda K." <[log in to unmask]> Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2014 13:46:17 +0000 I was just discussing this issue yesterday with our librarian who heads library services for persons with disabilities. We would be very interested to hear what others have done also. Thanks. Rhonda -- Rhonda Whithaus Electronic Resources Coordinator MU Libraries University of Missouri Columbia [log in to unmask] On 9/12/14 12:15 AM, "LIBLICENSE" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >From: Paoshan Yue <[log in to unmask]> >Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 21:52:10 +0000 > >Greetings, all! > >We are working on gathering information about the (ADA) accessibility >of our licensed resources (databases, vendor-specific platforms) at the >request of our Library Dean. The purpose of doing this is so we will >know which of our licensed resources are accessible and in what ways. > >Have you done something similar at your library? If you have, I would >greatly appreciate it if you don¹t mind sharing your experience with >us. > > >Thanks, >Paoshan > >-------------------- >Paoshan Yue >Head of Electronic Resources & Acquisition Services >Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center University of Nevada, Reno >[log in to unmask]