April 24, 2025

Bridging the Gap Webinar

Library Futures and a distinguished panel of guests held a discussion on Bridging the Gap: Accessibility and Digital Collections for All Patrons. Digital collections must be accessible to patrons with disabilities, but compliance with legal requirements like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is often complex. This webinar examined best practices for digital accessibility, legal mandates, and what libraries should expect from vendors to ensure inclusive user experiences.

Bridging the Gap: Accessibility and Digital Collections for All Patrons / Stephanie Anderson, New York Public Library, Donna Mack, Disability Diplomat, Luis Pérez, CAST, Teresa Schultz, University of Nevada, Reno, Moriah-Taylor Rutherford, Library Futures / Wednesday, April 23, 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT / Tree growing from a laptop. In its branches are an old white woman with hearing aids and a tablet, a woman in a headscarf reading to two children, a Black person wearing headphones, and a person working at a computer.
Watch the recording

Links from the panelists:

Other links from the community:

  • Take a closer look: The efficacy of dyslexia fonts
  • Fable
  • How to Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the visually impaired
  • Fact Sheet: New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments ADA.gov
  • ADA Title II Regulations: Implications for Libraries
  • Library Accessibility Alliance, particularly the testing and resources sections
  • Ebook Usability Report on Aggregator Platforms: A Case Study of EBSCO and ProQuest – California Digital Library
  • Video & Audio accessibility.umich.edu