ERIC Number: EJ1207603
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Mar
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0010-0870
EISSN: N/A
Eighteen Blind Library Users' Experiences with Library Websites and Search Tools in U.S. Academic Libraries: A Qualitative Study
Mulliken, Adina
College & Research Libraries, v80 n2 p152-168 Mar 2019
Telephone interviews were conducted with 18 blind academic library users around the United States about their experiences using their library and its website. The study uses the perspective that blind users' insights are fundamental. A common theme was that navigating a webpage is time consuming on the first visit. Issues identified include the need for "databases" to be defined on the homepage, accessibly coded search boxes, logical heading structure, and several problems to be resolved on result pages. Variations in needs depending on users' screen-reader expertise were also raised. Suggestions for libraries to address these issues are offered.
Descriptors: Blindness, Users (Information), Library Services, Web Sites, Search Strategies, Academic Libraries, Navigation (Information Systems), User Needs (Information), Access to Education, Disabilities, Usability, Information Seeking, Braille
Association of College and Research Libraries. 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. e-mail: acrl@ala.org; Web site: http://crl.acrl.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A