2014 Charleston Library Conference

Access barriers do not only exist in the physical environment but also online. Just as particular architectural design features make it possible, or impossible, for people with certain disabilities to move about independently, so does the design of the electronic environment, which includes all the library e-resources, creates either enabling or disabling conditions.Recent research indicates that when librarians make decisions about the selection of specific online resources, such as e-books and article databases, the needs of people with disabilities are rarely on their radar screen. Collection development policies requiring conformance to established accessibility standards, Section 508 and WCAG 2.0, are currently the exception rather than the rule. Also, books on collection development, often used as textbooks to train the next generation of librarians, do not cover the issue adequately, if they address it at all. This program, which brings together the perspectives of three speakers—a researcher, a university administrator with expertise in accessibility issues, and a major database vendor representative—is particularly tailored towards librarians involved in selecting e-resources for their institutions. The presentations will take up 45 minutes, with additional time for discussion. At the end of this program, attendees will more knowledgeable about how collection development decisions impact the accessibility of e-resources to people with disabilities, be informed about California State University's approach to accessibility and library e-learning resources, better understand the vendor's perspective on this issue, and be encouraged to develop effective strategies to make the online environment at their own libraries more inclusive.