Good design principles for the library website: a study of accessibility in UK university libraries

Craven, Jenny (2000) Good design principles for the library website: a study of accessibility in UK university libraries. New Review of Information and Library Research, 6. pp. 25-51. ISSN 1361-455X

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Abstract

To ensure access to information is available for all, consideration of the different needs of people must be taken into account. This paper considers accessibility issues in terms of content provision and the design of webpages and focuses on issues relating to blind and visually impaired users. It reviews the current situation in UK higher education libraries with regard to the provision of accessible library webpages and considers policy and legislation which should have an impact on web designers who are addressing accessibility issues. The paper then goes on to describe work undertaken for a Disability and Information Systems in Higher Education (DISinHE) study on the accessibility of university library websites and the current levels of awareness of accessibility issues among university library web designers. Finally, it identifies a number of useful resources and advice for the design of accessible websites.