Accessibility of Web-based Accessibility of Web-based library databases: the library databases: the
vendors’ perspectives in vendors’ perspectives in 20072007
Suzanne L. ByerleySuzanne L. Byerley11th Annual Accessing Higher Ground 11th Annual Accessing Higher Ground
ConferenceConferenceNovember 11-14, University of ColoradoNovember 11-14, University of Colorado
Boulder, ColoradoBoulder, Colorado
[email protected] Family Library
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
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.
Assumptions for 2007 studyAssumptions for 2007 study
Database vendors:Database vendors: apply accessibility standards and guidelines apply accessibility standards and guidelines
to their productsto their products provide documentation about accessibility of provide documentation about accessibility of
their search interfacestheir search interfaces assure that sales reps are conversant in assure that sales reps are conversant in
accessibility featuresaccessibility features test products for accessibility/usabilitytest products for accessibility/usability
MethodologyMethodology
Same survey questions as in Same survey questions as in earlier study with one addition.earlier study with one addition.
Selected 17 database vendors.Selected 17 database vendors. E-mail to customer service reps to E-mail to customer service reps to
identify appropriate contact identify appropriate contact person.person.
Web-based survey Web-based survey Follow-up phone calls or emails if Follow-up phone calls or emails if
needed.needed.
Vendors who respondedVendors who responded
(ABC-CLIO)(ABC-CLIO)
ACSACS
CSACSA
(EBSCO)(EBSCO)
(Elsevier)(Elsevier)
H.W. WilsonH.W. Wilson
(IEEE)(IEEE)
(JSTOR)(JSTOR)
LexisNexisLexisNexis
MetaPressMetaPress
ProquestProquest
(Thompson/Gale)(Thompson/Gale)
( ) =participation in 2003( ) =participation in 2003
Vendors who did not respond
(ProjectMuse) (OCLC FirstSearch) (Emerald) (Wiley) (OVID)
( ) =participation in 2003( ) =participation in 2003
Vendor ratings of online Vendor ratings of online productsproducts
We asked each vendor to We asked each vendor to raterate
their product for their product for accessibilityaccessibility
on a scale of 0 to 5.on a scale of 0 to 5.
5=fully accessible 0=not accessible5=fully accessible 0=not accessible ( )=( )= 2003 2003 responseresponse
DatabaseDatabase 55 44 33 22 11 00
ACSACS XX
CSACSA XX
EBSCOEBSCO X X (X)(X)
ElsevierElsevier X X (X)(X)
H.W. WilsonH.W. Wilson XX
IEEEIEEE X X (X(X))
JSTORJSTOR XX (X)(X)
LexisNexisLexisNexis XX
MetaPressMetaPress XX
ProquestProquest XX
Thompson/GaleThompson/Gale X X (X)(X)
Methods of Document DeliveryMethods of Document Delivery
DatabaseDatabase pdfpdf htmlhtml html+graphichtml+graphicss
OtherOther
ACSACS XX XX XX
CSACSA XX XX XX
EBSCOhostEBSCOhost XX XX XX
ElsevierElsevier XX XX XX
H.W. WilsonH.W. Wilson XX XX XX
IEEEIEEE XX
JSTORJSTOR XX Image based pdf Image based pdf with ocr with ocr embeddedembedded
LexisNexisLexisNexis XX
MetaPressMetaPress XX XX XX
ProQuestProQuest XX XX XX
Thompson/Thompson/GaleGale
XX XX XX
Do you have a formal policy Do you have a formal policy statement about product statement about product accessibility on web site?accessibility on web site?
YesYesElsevier Elsevier (N)(N)IEEE IEEE (N)(N)JSTOR JSTOR (Y)(Y)LexisNexisLexisNexisProQuestProQuestThompson Gale Thompson Gale
(Y)(Y)
NoNo
ACSACS
CSACSA
EBSCOhost EBSCOhost (Y)(Y)
H.W. WilsonH.W. Wilson
MetaPressMetaPress
( ) response in 2003( ) response in 2003
Do product brochures contain Do product brochures contain accessibility information?accessibility information?
YesYesIEEEIEEE
ProQuest ProQuest
Thompson GaleThompson Gale
Don’t know:Don’t know:ElsevierElsevier
NoNoACSACS
CSACSA
EBSCOhostEBSCOhost
H.W. WilsonH.W. Wilson
JSTORJSTOR
LexisNexisLexisNexis
MetapressMetapress
YesYesCSACSAH.W. WilsonH.W. WilsonJSTOR JSTOR (N)(N)LexisNexisLexisNexisProQuestProQuestThompson Gale Thompson Gale (N)(N)
( ) response in 2003( ) response in 2003
NoNoACSACS
EBSCOhost EBSCOhost (Y)(Y)
MetaPressMetaPress
Don’t knowDon’t knowElsevier Elsevier (N)(N)
IEEE IEEE (N)(N)
Are sales reps trained on 508 standards Are sales reps trained on 508 standards to the extent that you conform to them?to the extent that you conform to them?
Are sales reps encouraged to discuss Are sales reps encouraged to discuss product accessibility with customers?product accessibility with customers?
YesYesEBSCOhost EBSCOhost (Y)(Y)H.W. WilsonH.W. WilsonJSTOR JSTOR (Y)(Y) LexisNexisLexisNexisProQuestProQuestThompson Gale Thompson Gale (N)(N)
( ) response in 2003( ) response in 2003
NoNoMetaPressMetaPress
Don’t knowDon’t knowACSACSCSACSAElsevier Elsevier (Y)(Y) IEEE IEEE (N)(N)
What standards/guidelines do you What standards/guidelines do you follow?follow?
DatabaseDatabase 508508 WCAGWCAG NoNo OtherOther
ACSACS XX XX
CSACSA XX SENDASENDA
EBSCO EBSCO X X (X)(X)
XX
Elsevier Elsevier XX XX (X)(X)
H.W. WilsonH.W. Wilson XX XX
IEEEIEEE XX (X)(X)
JSTORJSTOR X X (X)(X)
XX
LexisNexisLexisNexis XX XX
MetaPressMetaPress XX
ProquestProquest XX XX
Thompson/GaleThompson/Gale X X (X)(X)
XX
Is your product registered with Is your product registered with the GSA Accessible Data the GSA Accessible Data
Center?Center?
Yes: 0Yes: 0
No: 5No: 5
Don’t know: 5Don’t know: 5
No response: 1No response: 1
Do you test your products for Do you test your products for accessibility?accessibility?
DatabaseDatabase YESYES NONO Don’t Don’t knowknow
No responseNo response
ACSACS XX
CSACSA XX
EBSCOEBSCO X X (X)(X)
ElsevierElsevier X X (X)(X)
H.W. WilsonH.W. Wilson XX
IEEE IEEE (X)(X) XX
JSTORJSTOR X X (X)(X)
LexisNexisLexisNexis XX
MetaPressMetaPress XX
ProquestProquest XX
Thompson/GaleThompson/Gale XX (X)(X)
What software is used to test What software is used to test accessibility?accessibility?CSACSA Screen readers, html & accessibility Screen readers, html & accessibility
validatorsvalidators
EBSCOEBSCO Screen readers, html & Screen readers, html & accessibility, validatorsaccessibility, validators
ElsevierElsevier Screen readers, html, accessibility, Screen readers, html, accessibility, & css validators& css validators
JSTORJSTOR Screen readers, html & Screen readers, html & accessibility, validatorsaccessibility, validators
LexisNexisLexisNexis Screen readers, html, accessibility, Screen readers, html, accessibility, & css validators& css validators
ProquestProquest Screen readersScreen readers
ThompsonGalThompsonGalee
Screen readers, accessibility Screen readers, accessibility validatorsvalidators
Do you conduct usability tests /people Do you conduct usability tests /people who have disabilities?who have disabilities?
DatabaseDatabase YESYES NONO Don’t Don’t knowknow
No Res.No Res.
ACSACS XX
CSACSA XX
EBSCOEBSCO XX (X)(X)
ElsevierElsevier X X (X)(X)
H.W. WilsonH.W. Wilson XX
IEEEIEEE (X)(X) XX
JSTORJSTOR X X (X)(X)
LexisNexisLexisNexis XX
MetaPressMetaPress XX
ProquestProquest XX
Thompson/GaleThompson/Gale (X)(X) XX
Which disability communities have Which disability communities have you asked to test your products?you asked to test your products?
EBSCOEBSCO Blind, low visionBlind, low vision
ElsevierElsevier Blind, low visionBlind, low vision
JSTORJSTOR Blind, low visionBlind, low vision
LexisNexisLexisNexis BlindBlind
ProquestProquest BlindBlind
Were our assumptions correct?
Positives: More vendors are adhering to
standards and guidelines Sales reps are more knowledgeable PDF is getting betterNegatives: Vendors are not marketing
accessibility Vendors are not testing enough for
usability
2003 and 2007 studies
Byerley, Suzanne L. and Chambers, MaryBeth. “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.