Leeds Beckett's Library Services use a number of third party systems and websites to deliver its service to students and staff of the University. We want as many people as possible to use these and we work with platform owners and content creators to ensure this.
The table below:
| Name, function and provider of system / site | Link to Accessibility Statement / information on accessibility | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
|
Library Website and associated functions (FAQs / Room Bookings / Tutorials / Chat) (Springshare) |
Springshare Accessibility Statement |
We have manually audited a sample of our Library website pages and associated functions, including FAQs and continue to work on a small number of areas of non-compliance. We have created comprehensive guidelines for creating accessible content as this is provided by a wide range of Library staff. New content continues to be checked for accessibility. a Springshare Accessibility Statement was originally produced in-house for the Library website and associated functions in June 2020 and was most recently updated in September 2021. |
| MyBeckett (Blackboard) | Accessibility in Blackboard Learn |
Blackboard Ally is available to enable academic staff to check the accessibility of the material they upload to our Virtual Learning Environment and for students to convert material into accessible format. This function is also available via the Blackboard App so students can download alternative formats from within the app. Training is available to University staff in the use of Ally and to support them in creating accessible content. Online support is also available for students including a Blackboard Ally FAQ. |
| Skills for Learning (Springshare) | Skills for Learning accessibility statement |
The Skills for Learning website uses the Springshare platform used by the Library website but has been customised so a separate audit has been carried out. An in-house statement was produced to coincide with the launch of the website in September 2020 and updated in April 2021 and again in October 2021 following work on a small number of areas of non-compliance. |
| Reading Lists (Talis Aspire) | Talis Web Accessibility Statement |
Talis Aspire provide our reading list system and each reading list has a link to the supplier's statement from within the system toolbar. The supplier continues to improve functionality and accessibilty including chagnes to how lists can be viewed. We create alternative format reading lists to ensure they are accessible to all students. If we are unable to obtain an accessible format of an item which is required by a student we digitise it on request and produce an OCRed searchable PDF. |
| Discover (OCLC) |
Discover is the Library's academic search engine providing the ability to search for books and electronic resources. A new platform for this was introduced in August 2021 removing the need for a separate Library Catalogue. The home page of the system provides a link to the supplier's Accessibility Statement. We are also working with the supplier on an accessibility issue (animation) raised by a student. |
|
| PebblePad (PebblePad) | PebblePad Accessibility Overview | PebblePad is a portfolio system with content mainly uploaded by students. |
| Turnitin (Turnitn) | Turnitin Commitment to Accessibility |
Turnitin is a web-based text matching system used by many universities worldwide. Lecturers usually ask students to submit work via Turnitin submission areas in MyBeckett. Turnitin helps with the development of academic writing and referencing skills. Information about accessing a text-only version of Turnitin Similarity Reports and some of the current known limitations is available in our student FAQs. |
| Repository (Eprints) | Eprints Accessibility Statement |
The Leeds Beckett Repository provides open access to research outputs at the University, as required by funders and permitted by publishers and copyright law. It manages the full text (Word/PDF) files uploaded from Symplectic and is the external, online collection of Leeds Beckett research outputs. Work is taking place to look at the accessibility of PDFs in the Repository. We are investigating whether links to Sensus Access can be added to the Repository to enable students and staff to create accessible copies if required. |
| Research Information System (Symplectic) |
Symplectic Elements is a research management system that collects research activity in one place. It is an internal database of research records and is used to generate the list of publications that appears on online staff profiles and to provide reports on research activity across the University. More information about the system can be found on the Library web pages and there is additional Symplectic accessibility information on their support site. |
|
| Ebook Collections - various suppliers | eBook Collections - links to Accessibility information |
The Library was a lead partner on the ebook accessibility project and continues to work closely with suppliers ensuring that the ebooks were purchase are accessible. Each eBook platform has its accessibility FAQ containing a link to the platform Accessibility Statement. These are linked to from the eBook Collections and the Database A-Z page. |
| Ejournal Collections - various suppliers |
Library Services use preferred licensing guidelines when purchasing and renewing electronic resources which includes key accessibility measures. We have liaised with JISC Collections, other institutions and suppliers to obtain statements from individual publishers and have accessibility statements for 97% of the electronic resources we subscribe to. These are linked to under the relevant entry via our Journals A-Z and Databases A-Z lists. We continue to liaise with the remaining suppliers and will add their statements as they become available. |
|
| Digitised readings created under the CLA licence | CLA Accessibility Policy |
Digitised reading created by The Library's Digitisation service under the CLA licence are added to online reading lists and to MyBeckett. The files created are OCRed searchable PDFs. Work is taking place to look at the accessibility of digitised PDFs. A new student FAQ has been written: What accessibility features are available for digitised chapters using Kortext? |
| CLA's Digital Content Store | Digital Content Store Accessibility Policy | The Digital Content Store is the platform which hosts digitised reading created by The Library's Digitisation service under the CLA licence. |
| E-theses |
Electronic formats of PhD theses supplied by third party (students). Information on accessibility is included in our E-theses and copyright guide. Guidance to support students create their theses in an accessibile format is being developed with the aim of incorporating into the graduate training programme. |
|
| Teach learn staff web pages (Sitecore) | Sitecore Accessibility Information |
The TeachLearn pages for staff are held on the University's content management system, Sitecore. |
| Library blog (Sitecore) | Sitecore Accessibility Information |
The Library blog is held on the University's content management system, Sitecore. |
| Social media applications (Various) |
Although we are aware that social media platforms are out of scope we upload accessible content where possible and train our staff on accessibility. |
|
| Archive and Special Collections web pages | Archive and Special Collections Accessibility Statement |
These pages are created within the same content management system as our Library website but have a customised template. An individual Accessibility Statement has been produced for this site. |
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
The Library’s software page provides information on assistive software which may help in using our systems and websites.
We know some parts of the websites and systems we use are not fully accessible - details are provided in the individual Accessibility Statements.
If you need information on the content of our systems and websites in a different format (for example accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille) please email libraryaltformats@leedsbeckett.ac.uk. We'll consider your request and get back to you within 5 working days.
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of our systems and websites. If you find any problems or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact h.loughran@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint,contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
The Library supports the use of The Next Generation Text Service. Alternatively you can email us or contact us by online chat..
You can find out all the ways you can get in touch with us on the Library website Contact Us page.
Leeds Beckett University is committed to making its websites accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
The websites and systems used by LLI are partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
Please note these are a sample of non-compliances; individual Statements will provide more information.
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Some of the ways in which our websites and systems are not yet compliant with the Regulations are:
External content
We link to external pages and other Leeds Beckett University pages which may not be accessible.
We created a roadmap towards compliance in September 2019:
This statement was prepared on 01 October 2021. It was last reviewed on 01 October 2021.
