Analyzing the accessibility of Illinois public library homepages: Are we accessible to all?

Abstract

Abstract This paper reports the results of the examination of the homepages of Illinois public library websites for language, design, layout, and efficacy based on the recommendations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 508 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium. The homepage of each public library website in Illinois was analyzed using the AInspector Sidebar online tool which inspected webpage landmarks, headings, content, images and links to determine which elements passed, violated or issued a warning or required a manual check to meet specific recommendations. A discussion of these results includes consideration of American Library Association website design standards as well as the standards of the Illinois Public Library Association. Since the library website provides virtual access to information, government forms, employment applications and resources for assistance, it is vital to consider the needs of those with disabilities when designing library websites.