Web accessibility at Kentucky's academic libraries

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on the implementation of web accessibility guidelines at Kentucky academic library web sites. Design/methodology/approach - The academic library home pages of Bachelor-degree granting institutions of Kentucky were tested for accessibility compliance using an online automated program. In addition, a series of manual accessibility tests were performed. Data were collected on errors against accessibility guidelines for each site. Data collected in 2003 were compared to data collected in 2007. Findings - The number of library home pages complying with basic accessibility guidelines is increasing. However, most sites that score well are built to comply with checkpoints that can be tested automatically. Few institutions included accessibility features which required manual verification. Research limitations/implications - This study relies largely on data collected with an imperfect accessibility-checking software program. Some accessibility checkpoints can appear to be satisfied using automated accessibility tests despite the presence of accessibility barrier beings. Also, minor errors against accessibility guidelines are not distinguished from major accessibility barriers. Practical implications - This study provides an impetus for web developers to aim higher than the automated accessibility checkpoints. It demonstrates a limited number of manual accessibility checkpoints that can be objectively tested. Originality/value - This paper looks beyond accessibility guidelines that can be tested automatically to see if accessibility guidelines for which manual tests must be performed are being implemented. This study is one of the very few published follow-up studies of web accessibility. Keywords Worldwide web, Academic libraries, United States of America