The document discusses the journey of redesigning a university library's catalogue to improve accessibility. Key requirements for the new system included complying with accessibility standards, allowing for customization without compromising accessibility, and addressing feedback requesting improvements to search, navigation, and inclusion of book cover images. An open source system was selected to allow for ongoing development and improvements. The new interface features improved search, account management, and help pages based on an information landscape model. Initial student feedback was positive and highlighted further areas for enhancement, such as default search settings and improved screen options.

1. The joys of accessible
design
with an open source catalogue
Sandra Reed & Sara Osman

2.  Start of our journey
 Defining our
requirements
 Interface design
 Benefits and
challenges
 Student feedback
 Future developments
Getting an accessible catalogue
Card Catolog01.jpg ,
commons.wikimedia.org,2004

3. Start of our journey
• Need for a new
library management
system
• Art and design
heritage
• Student feedback
• Greater focus on
accessible services
Image credit Zarar Chaudhri, CSM, 2013

4. Defining our requirements
• Review of student
feedback
• Voyager survey
• LibQual survey
• Visits
• What do we mean
by accessibility?
Image credit Zarar Chaudhri, CSM, 2013

5. Student
comments

6. Student comments
Layout … is generally a bit
cluttered/confusing. I find it
very hard to navigate.
Reduce not useful text
around the search result.
It is very important that each book has
an image … sometimes I remember
books just for the cover.
Improve the spell
check, it's urgent.
The spell check
is crap! Most of
us are dyslexic!
Modernise the
design of the pages.
E-Library - Hard to find what
you're looking for.

7. What do we mean by accessibility?
 Who are our users?
 How will they use the catalogue?
 Going beyond ‘DDA compliant’
 UAL context
 20 % of students declare SpLD
 5 % declare another disability
 49 % international students

8. User groups
Foundation
Undergraduate
Masters
Home
EU
International
Dyslexic students
Students with other disabilities
Students with no disabilities
Researchers
Academics

9. Possible transactions
• Search for a print book
• Comprehensive search on a topic
(print and e-resources)
• Background search on a topic
• Checking for most up to date edition
• Renew loans
• Pay fines

10. Design solutions – tender requirements
Colour options
Font size options
Easy to see loans/fines
Did you mean…?
Customised help
Suggestions as you type
Screen reader compatible
Icons
Book jackets
Clear/clean look
Clear language
No jargon
Scalable

11. Additional tender requirements
• Compare systems
• Web Content
Accessibility
Guidelines 2.0
Level AA
• Customisation
must not impact
accessibility
“Chalk on pavement” by Virtual EyeSee, 2011 licenced by CC

12. Interface design

13. Information
landscape Articles plus
Articles and other
e-resources
Library Catalogue
UAL collections and e-books
Books and e-books
Journal/ e-journal titles
Special collections

14. Design work-up

15. Students
contributed during
the design
process…..
….influencing the
final design
Students as partners

16. Image credit: Ana Escobar, 2016
Library Search

17. Image credit: Ana Escobar, 2016
Screen options

18. Image credit: Ana Escobar, 2016
Advanced search

19. Image credit: Ana Escobar, 2016
Suggest as you type

20. Image credit: Ana Escobar, 2016
Did you mean…?

21. Image credit: Ana Escobar, 2016
Search results

22. Image credit: Ana Escobar, 2016
Your account

23. Image credit: Ana Escobar, 2016
Help pages

24. Promotion
Postcards |display screens | library blog |Twitter | Facebook | Moodle |library staff

25. Library Services dot voting, LMDS 2015
Benefits and challenges of open source
Pros Cons
Targeted accessibility features Easily broken
Scope to improve & refresh Cost of maintenance & bespoke
development
Design freedom Can result in bad design
‘Free’ Cost of implementation – not
‘cheapest’ option
Sharing knowledge & collaboration Time commitment
Choice of support vendor Smaller / newer
Staff development opportunities Skills gaps
Flexibility Achieving consensus

26. Student feedback post implementation
Likes:
• Easy to search catalogue
• New books cover images
• Design of simple search
• Layout of Your account
Suggestions:
• Default to home library for
print books
• Improve screen options
• Link to reading lists
• Promote e-resources Image credit Susan Forsyth, Chelsea, 2014

27. Future developments
• Screen options
• Mobile view – and app
• Improve facets to refine
search results
• WCAG Level AAA
compliance
• Raise awareness of e-
resources
Cylinders by Kweku Bennin Image credit: Luke Potter, 2011

28. Any questions?
Sandra Reed
Discovery Librarian (Resources & Communications)
s.reed@arts.ac.uk
Sara Osman
Assistant Librarian (Access & Inclusion)
s.osman@arts.ac.uk
libsearch.arts.ac.uk