The Library: Accessibility Statements: Springshare

Accessibility Statement for the Library website and associated functions

This accessibility statement applies to the Library website and associated functions i.e. FAQs, online chat, appointment and room bookings, forms and online tutorials created using the LibWizard platform, at https://libguides.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/. Individual accessibility statements for other Library systems can be accessed via the Library Services Accessibility Statement page.

This website is run by Leeds Beckett University. It has been created using the LibGuides platform which is provided by Springshare. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

zoom in to at least 200% without the text spilling off the screen
resize to a single column with no horizontal scrolling
navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
listen to most of the website using a screen reader (we used JAWS 2018 as part of our accessibility testing)
find content using multiple methods (e.g. navigation menu and search feature)
navigate most of the website using just one finger on a mobile device
flip content horizontally and vertically on a mobile device
adjust line height for most text using a browser plug-in

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

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.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

externally produced videos and animations may not have subtitles
there is no inbuilt option to change the colours, font or text sizes
there is no inbuilt option to modify the line height or spacing of text
there is an issue with the heading structure
one component has insufficient contrast against the background colour
there are a small number of instances where links (or targets) do not have sufficient spacing between them
there is one instance of a link that receives keyboard focus which is hidden behind a custom footer
all our webpages have consistent help in the form of a Contact Us link in the footer. Different types of webpages also have customised and additional support. Within each group (or set) of pages the location of help is mostly consistent, with a small number of exceptions. We are currently working on improving consistency as far as possible across the site.
some of our online forms could be designed to make it easier for people using assistive technology to complete them and to help users avoid entering incorrect information

Feedback and contact information

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.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

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.

Enforcement procedure

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).

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

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.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Leeds Beckett University is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

The heading structure could be improved to work better for screen readers. This relates to WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships).

One component does not have sufficient contrast against the background colour. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.4.11 (Non-text Contrast).

There are a small number of instances where undersized targets do not have sufficient spacing. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.5.8 (Target Size (Minimum)).

On the Book a Study Space – Sheila Silver Library and Book a Study Space – Headingley Library pages, there is a link that receives keyboard focus which is hidden by our custom page footer. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.4.11 (Focus Not Obscured (Minimum)).

There are some instances where the location of help differs across pages within the same set. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 3.2.6 (Consistent Help).

Some forms on the Library website which collect information about the user do not have autocomplete tokens added. These include the following forms: Library Email Us and Chat With Us, Disability Support Email Us and Chat with the Library Disability Support team, FAQ search. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.3.5 (Identify Input Purpose).

We may be able to do more to help users avoid entering incorrect information into forms on the Library website. For example, it is possible to enter a date of birth in the future into the Library Email Us form. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 3.3.1 (Error Identification).

We continue to work on resolving these issues.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

External content

We link to external pages, documents and other Leeds Beckett University pages and information which may not be accessible.

Social media tools

The Library website has embedded content from various free social media tools. We aim for all content we publish via these to be accessible, however the accessibility of the platforms and any content we repost from other accounts is outside of our control.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are currently investigating and working to fix the accessibility issues we have identified and detailed in the Non-accessible content section above. New content added to the website continues to be checked for accessibility.

WCAG 2.2 was published on 5 October 2023 and added six new criteria for compliance at level AA. We assessed the Library website and associated functions against the new criteria and updated this statement and our internal accessibility guidance accordingly. The provider of our website system is also planning upcoming changes to its appearance. Once these have happened we will look to carry out a full audit against all WCAG 2.2 criteria on a sample of pages.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 11 December 2023. It was last reviewed on 11 December 2023.

A sample of 30 pages from this website were tested between November 2019 and September 2020, with system criteria assessed between November 2019 and May 2020, and content tested between August 2020 and September 2020. The pages were selected to cover the following categories: Home page; Contact page; Pages containing: Text-based content, Images, Video, Interactive tools and transactions, Forms, Documents, Accessibility information and Search boxes. We prioritised pages with high usage according to our website statistics and included at least one page or collection of pages from each of the four service areas which comprise Library Services. The sample contained the following pages:

Every published publicly accessible FAQ featured on the Library website was also tested between September 2020 and March 2021.

The testing was carried out by an individual member of Leeds Beckett University Library staff with advice and input from colleagues. Content was tested manually for conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. The Gov.uk detailed checklist was used for testing, supported by guidance notes compiled from various sources including Understanding WCAG 2.1, and tools such as a screen reader (JAWS 2018), Colour Contrast Analyser, WAVE Evaluation Tool, ATbar and a Line Height Adjuster Google Chrome extension. Testing was carried out using a Windows PC, Android mobile device or iPhone, as appropriate.

We carry out regular ongoing sample checking of website content and FAQs to help us identify and resolve any accessibility issues.