Accessibility and usability of online library databases

Purpose The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that all library services, programs and activities be accessible to people with disabilities. Web‐based indexes and databases have become a major staple in today's academic libraries. This study aims to investigate the accessibility and usability of these online resources for people using adaptive software to interface with computers. Design/methodology/approach Database interfaces were evaluated with two different methods: Selected screens of the interfaces were checked for compliance with major Section 508 and web Content Accessibility Guidelines components; and involving minimally trained subjects to carry out routine search‐related tasks, the interfaces were tested for functionality when used along with adaptive software commonly employed by people with print disabilities. Content accessibility within documents was judged based on document format. Findings The results indicate that, while most indexes and databases are now largely compliant with common accessibility standards and permit the performance of common search tasks, their actual user‐friendliness for people with disabilities tends to be low. Research limitations/implementations Future research could benefit from closer attention to the degree of difficulty involved in performing search tasks and to the accessibility of document content. Practical implications Usability information, provided for each of the 37 evaluated databases, helps librarians make better informed procurement decisions, offers guidance to those vendors willing to design more inclusive products, and alerts those who assist users of screen readers or audio browsers to the potential difficulties involved in searching specific library databases. Originality/value This is the first published study that systematically explores the accessibility of the major library databases for people with disabilities.