Connecting Users with Disabilities to Accessibility Services with Springshare
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How can you connect users to the accessibility resources they need, at the right time? Come see how the Montana State University Library uses both LibAnswers and LibGuides to facilitate accessibility requests, and share accessibility resources with users.
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Connecting Users with Disabilities to Accessibility Services with Springshare
- 2. • How can you connect users to the accessibility resources they need, at the right time? • We’ll see how the Montana State University Library uses LibGuides to facilitate accessibility requests and share with users.
- 3. Outline • Accessibility webpage • Linked from library homepage • Linked from all MSU Library webpages • Links to: Accessibility Request form (LibAnswers) • Links to: Accessibility & Instruction Guide (LibGuides) Let’s take a look!
- 4. Review: Accessibility Webpage • Button directly on the homepage • Also linked from all other library webpages, in the side bar, so users can get there quickly when they need to. • Our accessibility webpage then links out to two important resources: • Accessibility Request form using LibAnswers • Accessibility & Instruction LibGuide
- 5. Review: Accessibility Request Form • Intended for users with disabilities, or anyone else that needs MSU Library materials to be converted to a more accessible format based on their needs • Kept form as short as possible, to make it easy for users to submit a request • Users can also email us at access@montana.libanswers.com, without filling out the form, if that is easier • Request are monitored by multiple people • One to two requests per year - hopefully this means most of our materials are accessible from the start • Train all employees about the accessibility webpage, and the request form
- 6. Review: Accessibility & Instruction LibGuide • Targeted toward instructors • Information on how to create accessible instruction in the classroom, and best practices for Universal Design for Learning • Training resources for instructors, for example on how to create accessible PDFs or Word documents, or slides in PPT for example • Includes our library accessibility resources for students, including the request form we just looked at • Highlight this LibGuide at our new faculty orientation each year
- 7. The goal: • Main accessibility webpage is linked from all webpages on our library website. • Links to the request form (LibAnswers) & LibGuide • Ultimately, we hope this will connect users to the accessibility resources they need, at the right time, whether they are on our website or ask for website or ask for help in person.
Editor's Notes
- This presentation is centered around the question:
- Here's our outline for todays presentation. First and foremost, users need to be able to get to your accessibility resources easily, from wherever they are on your website. That’s why the MSU library has our accessibility webpage linked directly from the homepage, as well all library webpages on the sidebar of . We’ll see the MSU library accessibility webpage, and how it links users to an Accessibility Request form, which we created in LibAnswers, and our Accessibility & Instruction Guide, created through LibGuides. So lets take a look. On the main MSU Library homepage, we have a button directly to our Accessibility webpage, which if you can see the screen, I am showing at the bottom of It’s important for this link to be on the homepage, because that way users can search the page, or pull up a navigation menu with a screen reader for example, and find accessibility information quickly, if theyre looking for it. This page is also linked from all other library webpages, and is always in the side bar for the same reason, so users can get there quickly when they need to. Our accessibility webpage then links out to two important resources, that we created and manage using LibAnswers and LibGuides by SpringShare. First, we have an accessibility request form, for users to request library material in a more accessible format. This form is intended for users with disabilities, or anyone else that needs MSU Library materials to be converted to a more accessible format based on their needs, for example to be used with a screen reader, converted to large print, or to add closed captions. And While we strive to make all of our content and collections accessible from the start, and most of our video content does include closed captions for example, unfortunately, not all of our resources are fully accessible. So we offer this request form in case users come across content they need in a different way. We tried to keep this form as short as possible, to make it as easy as possible for users to submit a request. The only required questions are the email, the resources they need, and a brief explanation. We also ask if they have a date they need it by, and while we can’t always guarantee that date, we will try our very best. We also offer the option for users to simply email us at access@montana.libanswers.com, without filling out the form, in case that is easier for the user. Either way, if users fill out the form or email us, the requests go into a queue in LIbAnswers, which is monitored by multiple people. This helps make sure that the request will be addressed as soon as possible, and doesn’t just rely on one person who might be out on vacation, or at a conference like ACRL. And the reason we do not commit to a specific timeframe upfront is because some requests would take a lot longer than others. For example, it might take longer to caption a video than convert a text resource to large print. So after a request comes in, we will work with the user to let them know the timeline we expect for their request, and how they would like to receive the converted resources. We did see some users filling out this form when they really just needed help accessing materials from our databases, but they didn’t actually need the content in a different format. They just needed help accessing it in the first place. So at the top of the page we added the line explaining “If you need help accessing materials but do not need an alternative format, please Ask the Library and we will help you” which links to our general ask the library page, and has the option to email us or chat with us, through LibAnswers. I will admit this request form has not been used a lot, about once or twice per year since we created it in 2021, but I see that as a good thing actually because if we were getting a lot requests, that would tell us that a lot of our materials are not accessible from the start, or are not meeting our users needs. So if we don’t get many requests, we are ok with that. We also know that some people will ask in person for assistance, so we do train all of our employees about the accessibility webpage, and this request form. We include information on accessibility in our onboarding manual for new employees, and I also try to meet with all new employees to talk about the accessibility services we offer, and make sure they are aware of these options. We also know that students will often ask their instructors for help , because they know their instructors and it can be easier to ask someone familiar for help. So we also created an Accessibility & Instruction LibGuide, aimed more at instructors on campus. This guide ks also linked from our main accessibilyt webpage, and has information on how to create accessible instruction in the classroom, and best practices for Universal Design for Learning, that instructors can use to help make sure they design their classes in an accessible way, and use accessible resources in their courses. But we also include a list of our library accessibility resources on the guide, including the request form we just looked at. This helps spread awareness and make instructors aware of the services we offer, for their students or anyone else. That way if students ask for help, hopefully they know how to connect the student to the resources or services they need. The Accessibility & Instruction Guide also has training resources for instructors, for example on how to create accessible PDFs or Word documents, or slides in PPT for example. That way instructors can help make sure the resources they are using are accessible from the start as well. We highlight this LibGuide at our new faculty orientation each year, again to help spread awareness and connect instructors with the resources they need. The guide links to our accessibility request form, and both the guide and our request form are included on our main accessibility webpage, which is again linked from all webpages on our library website. Ultimately, the hope is that we can connect users to the accessibility resources they need, at the right time, whether they are on our website or ask for help in person.