Beyond Compliance: A Guide to Accessibility Audits for Your Library

Scheduled: Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 1:00pm-2:30pm

Discover how to create a truly inclusive library space with our upcoming webinar on accessibility audits. This session is designed to guide you through evaluating both the physical and digital aspects of your library, helping you identify and address barriers that might prevent users from fully enjoying your services. Whether you’re just beginning your accessibility journey or looking to build on existing efforts, this webinar provides a valuable starting point and includes resources to support your progress.
Together, we’ll analyze photos of library spaces, discussing what works, what doesn’t, and practical ways to fix common issues. Additionally, we’ll conduct a live demonstration of a WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) audit on a library homepage, offering actionable insights for improving online accessibility.

Enhancing accessibility isn’t just about ADA compliance—it’s about making your library a welcoming, usable space for everyone. By increasing inclusivity, you’ll foster greater community engagement, see more visitors, and ease the strain on staff by reducing non-library-specific tasks. Many library users, including those with invisible disabilities, are already navigating your space—this is your chance to elevate their experience. Join us as we transform libraries into spaces of true accessibility and belonging. Let’s make your library a place for everyone!

Audience 

Medical librarians and other information professionals who are in a physical or digital library space and want to make their spaces more accessible and inclusive.

Learning Outcomes 

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Assess your physical library for broad accessibility issues.
• Assess your library’s website for WCAG compliance
• Understand the difference between ADA compliance and accessibility and why that is important.

Presenter

JJ Pionke has been an Instructor of Information at Syracuse University since 2019. He teaches the disability and librarianship course. His award-winning research focuses on disability and accessibility in libraries for employees and patrons. Named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker in 2020 in the Advocacy category, JJ is a fierce advocate for improving accessibility in libraries as well as for inclusion and equitable treatment of library employees with disabilities.