Access for All: Bridging the Gaps in Library Accessibility

In our recent webinar, Bridging the Gap: Accessibility and Digital Collections for All Patrons, we brought together a group of amazing panelists to dig into what accessibility really means in libraries, beyond checklists, beyond VPATs (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template), and definitely beyond compliance-only mindsets. The panel included Stephanie Anderson (BookOps), Donna Mack (Disability Diplomat), Luis Pérez (CAST), Teresa Schultz (University of Nevada, Reno), and was moderated by Moriah-Taylor Rutherford, a Library Futures intern and future archivist.

Teresa, Scholarly Communication & Social Sciences Librarian at the University of Nevada, Reno, kicked things off with an honest account of what it’s like to go through a legal consent decree due to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) violations at a university library. The takeaway? Don’t wait for a lawsuit to make accessibility a priority. Her story made it clear how much easier (and better for everyone) it is to build accessibility from the beginning, versus trying to retrofit it later under pressure. She talked about training, procurement, metadata, LibGuides, and other library platforms and considerations. It was a full ecosystem overhaul.

Luis, the Director of Disability & Accessibility for CAST, followed that with a broader lens: accessibility as usability. Not just about screen readers or captioning (though those are crucial), but thinking holistically about how people actually use systems. He pushed for a shift in mindset; moving from “Is this technically compliant?” to “Is this actually working for people?”

Donna, Accessibility Consultant and professional speaker, brought the real talk. As a blind screen reader user herself, she had a lot to say about how libraries often miss the mark, not because they don’t care, but because they don’t ask the right people. She stressed the need for libraries to engage with disability communities directly, to hire, consult with, and listen to folks who rely on these tools every day. Also, her reminder that “AI lies” got some solid laughs and nods of agreement.

Stephanie, Assistant Director of Selection at BookOps, wrapped things up by pulling the thread back to collections; how decisions about what’s bought, in what format, and how collections are described can open or close doors for users. She talked about balancing huge systems, staff training, budget issues, and still keeping accessibility front and center. Her advice? Be the person in the meeting who always asks about accessibility. That alone can start to shift a culture.

The main takeaway was this: accessibility is an ongoing practice that relies on human connection to build bridges between users and information.

Watch the full session at the Internet Archive.

Resources from the Event

• CAST.org
• Accessibility Toolkit for Open Educational Resources (OER): Images Alternative Text (alt-text)
• An alt Decision Tree from W3C
• Designing for Accessibility - AEM Center
• Image Accessibility Creator
• Learning on the Go: ADA Title II Updates and Requirements - AEM Center
• The DAISY Consortium
• Image Description Guidelines - DIAGRAM Center

About the Author

Moriah-Taylor Rutherford is a Spring 2025 MLS Graduate of North Carolina Central University with a concentration in Archives and Records Management. She earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Howard University. Throughout her academic journey, she has developed a strong interest in archival work, records management, and how these fields help shape collective memory and safeguard important narratives. She lives in Michigan with a very spoiled cat named Marie-Belle. She enjoys reading, cooking, crafting, and making ridiculous TikTok videos in her spare time. She joined Library Futures as an intern in Spring 2025.