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Accessibility of Web-based library databases: the vendors’ perspectives in 2007

Accessibility of Web-based library databases: the vendors’ perspectives in 2007. Suzanne L. Byerley 11th Annual Accessing Higher Ground Conference November 11-14, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado. sbyerley@uccs.edu Kraemer Family Library University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

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Accessibility of Web-based library databases: the vendors’ perspectives in 2007

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  1. Accessibility of Web-based library databases: the vendors’ perspectives in 2007 Suzanne L. Byerley 11th Annual Accessing Higher Ground Conference November 11-14, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado sbyerley@uccs.edu Kraemer Family Library University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

  2. Conclusions –2003 study • Section 508 was beginning to have positive impact. • PDF document delivery is a problem. • Few companies conduct usability studies. • Few sales reps are not knowledgeable about accessibility of their products/ let alone accessibility in general. • Few companies have product accessibility statements.

  3. Assumptions for 2007 study Database vendors: • apply accessibility standards and guidelines to their products • provide documentation about accessibility of their search interfaces • assure that sales reps are conversant in accessibility features • test products for accessibility/usability

  4. Methodology • Same survey questions as in earlier study with one addition. • Selected 17 database vendors. • E-mail to customer service reps to identify appropriate contact person. • Web-based survey • Follow-up phone calls or emails if needed.

  5. (ABC-CLIO) ACS CSA (EBSCO) (Elsevier) H.W. Wilson (IEEE) (JSTOR) LexisNexis MetaPress Proquest (Thompson/Gale) ( ) =participation in 2003 Vendors who responded

  6. Vendors who did not respond • (ProjectMuse) • (OCLC FirstSearch) • (Emerald) • (Wiley) • (OVID) ( ) =participation in 2003

  7. Vendor ratings of online products We asked each vendor to rate their product for accessibility on a scale of 0 to 5.

  8. 5=fully accessible 0=not accessible( )=2003 response

  9. Methods of Document Delivery

  10. Yes Elsevier (N) IEEE (N) JSTOR (Y) LexisNexis ProQuest Thompson Gale (Y) No ACS CSA EBSCOhost (Y) H.W. Wilson MetaPress ( ) response in 2003 Do you have a formal policy statement about product accessibility on web site?

  11. Yes IEEE ProQuest Thompson Gale Don’t know: Elsevier No ACS CSA EBSCOhost H.W. Wilson JSTOR LexisNexis Metapress Do product brochures contain accessibility information?

  12. Yes CSA H.W. Wilson JSTOR (N) LexisNexis ProQuest Thompson Gale (N) ( ) response in 2003 No ACS EBSCOhost (Y) MetaPress Don’t know Elsevier (N) IEEE (N) Are sales reps trained on 508 standards to the extent that you conform to them?

  13. Yes EBSCOhost (Y) H.W. Wilson JSTOR (Y) LexisNexis ProQuest Thompson Gale (N) ( ) response in 2003 No MetaPress Don’t know ACS CSA Elsevier (Y) IEEE (N) Are sales reps encouraged to discuss product accessibility with customers?

  14. What standards/guidelines do you follow?

  15. Is your product registered with the GSA Accessible Data Center? • Yes: 0 • No: 5 • Don’t know: 5 • No response: 1

  16. Do you test your products for accessibility?

  17. What software is used to test accessibility?

  18. Do you conduct usability tests /people who have disabilities?

  19. Which disability communities have you asked to test your products?

  20. Were our assumptions correct? Positives: • More vendors are adhering to standards and guidelines • Sales reps are more knowledgeable • PDF is getting better Negatives: • Vendors are not marketing accessibility • Vendors are not testing enough for usability

  21. 2003 and 2007 studies Byerley, Suzanne L. and Chambers, Mary Beth. “Accessibility of Web-based Library Databases: the Vendors’ Perspectives.” Library Hi-Tech 21(3), 2003, 347-57. Byerley, Suzanne L., Chambers, Mary Beth, Thohira, Mariyam. “Accessibility of Library Databases: the Vendors’ Perspectives in 2007.” Library Hi-Tech 25(4), 2007, 509-527.

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