BiblioCommons Commitment to Accessibility

Last updated: May 08, 2026

Public Libraries have long served their communities as welcoming, open, and inclusive built environments. As a digital service provider to public libraries, we know that the online experience we create needs to be welcoming and inclusive to people with a wide range of abilities. This includes those who rely on assistive technology to access online services, in addition to individuals with cognitive and digital-literacy challenges.

BiblioCommons is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive experience for all users, including those who rely on assistive technologies. An important part of this commitment is our use of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, which we refer to as the “Guidelines” throughout this document. These Guidelines serve as our primary accessibility standard for the design, development, and testing of our websites and Services.

Beyond the Guidelines, we also aim to address the broader usability needs of users of assistive technology. Over the years, our team has been trained to apply accessibility principles throughout our design, development, and quality assurance processes. As part of this ongoing work, we have implemented additional accessibility enhancements that go beyond the baseline requirements of WCAG 2.1 AA. Some of these improvements are informed by elements of WCAG 2.2. We have introduced enhancements that surpass WCAG 2.1 AA in several areas, and we continue to advance toward increased alignment with WCAG 2.2.

We remain committed to ongoing accessibility improvements as standards evolve and new best practices emerge. Accessibility is a continuous process, and we will continue to enhance our Services to better support all users.

How Are We Doing This

The Guidelines serve as an internationally accepted measure of success for websites and online applications, and so we are using them to evaluate our current Services and make changes and adjustments to better serve people with disabilities. We are committed to providing online services that meet the criteria set out by the Guidelines and to continuously improve accessibility and usability over time.

As part of our design and development process, we have worked with Third-Party experts to review our products, identify accessibility goals based on the Guidelines and have created a plan to meet these goals as we update and improve our websites overall. Our team has been trained on how to implement the Guidelines in the design, development, and testing of the websites and has made several significant changes to the services. They are working steadily to align all the services with the Guidelines, and the regulations that use the Guidelines as their measure.

Steps We've Taken So Far

• We commissioned a professional audit of our websites and received recommendations that will bring the websites in line with the Guidelines.
• We also collaborated with a team of expert Accessibility Testers who have experience with print disabilities, who provided additional recommendations for accessibility improvements.
• We have worked and will continue to work with our library partners to identify specific issues members of their communities are experiencing and address those issues.
• Many of these improvements have already been completed. In each case, we have aimed for solutions that align both with the Guidelines and with more broadly defined principles of usability. These improvements include:
  • Text Equivalents — We have ensured that images are accessible to people who use screen readers and other assistive technology by using appropriate alternative text.
  • Site Structure — We are working to ensure that appropriate headings are used so that people can use the site with assistive technology.
  • Keyboard Access — Improving keyboard access for non-mouse input devices, including ongoing projects:
    • to open modals, overlays or dialogs with the correct focus
    • to make it easier to navigate headings, lists, paragraphs, links and buttons
    • to ensure that forms are fully accessible.
  • Magnification — We are working to ensure that the main workflows on our sites can be used by people with screen magnifiers.
  • Color Contrast — Ensuring that color use on the websites does not compromise text legibility.
• We have also implemented design and review procedures that will align future features and development with the Guidelines.

How We Make It Sustainable

We have taken steps to ensure that accessibility is not a one-time project but is an ongoing process of improvement.

• Our Product team includes accessibility and usability criteria for any new feature or improvements to existing features.
• The User Experience team approaches new designs and improvements through the lens of the Guidelines and usability practices.
• As our development teams write new code for those designs, they are refining consistent practices for accessibility according to the Guidelines and usability insights and applying those systematically to the application.
• Our Quality Assurance team tests each new feature using a variety of assistive technology such as screen readers and high contrast displays.
• We have put in place automated tests to ensure that new changes do not violate the basic structures recommended in the Guidelines.

In addition, we have developed internal processes to ensure new and current employees have the tools they need to make the right choices for accessibility and usability.

Compatibility

BiblioCommons products are designed to support assistive technologies and to function reliably with current versions of leading browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, on supported operating systems such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Are We There Yet?

We've made strong progress, but there's more to do. In 2025, BiblioCommons implemented a series of accessibility enhancements across the product suite that goes beyond the requirements of WCAG 2.1 Level AA and aligns with many of the improvements reflected in WCAG 2.2.

On BiblioCore, we refined how system messages, notifications, and alerts appear so they're clearer, more consistent, and easier for users to understand. These updates help ensure important information feels predictable and accessible wherever it appears. We also refreshed the Search page with a clearer heading structure and more meaningful metadata display, making it easier for users to scan, navigate, and explore results.

BiblioEvents now benefits from many of the accessibility improvements introduced in BiblioCore. The new Events Detail page offers a cleaner layout and a more intuitive flow, making it easier for all users (including those using assistive technologies) to discover and engage with library events.

In addition to these updates, we made several improvements to shared components such as the Header and other interface elements to better support WCAG-aligned design and interaction patterns across the products.

On BiblioApps, we made updates across both Android and iOS to create a smoother experience for users of assistive technologies. On Android, the "New at the Library" titles now announce their details more consistently with TalkBack. On iOS, clearer labels and more accessible controls, including improvements to the multi-account switcher, make VoiceOver navigation easier.

On BiblioWeb, we upgraded the Frequently Asked Questions pages. This upgrade included improving focus states, adding ARIA attributes to enhance navigation, and announcing the number of list items to improve screen reader accessibility. We also made several small improvements across BiblioWeb to support the new Guidelines.

We have more work planned for 2026 and beyond. This includes an upgraded Online Resources A–Z page on BiblioWeb, as well as a number of improvements to BiblioEmail to support the new Guidelines. On BiblioCore, the upcoming Browse and Discover features will introduce redesigned pages that replace several older ones, making it easier for users to explore the library's collections through more engaging, accessible designs.

As always, we'll continue to improve our products and enhance accessibility throughout the year. We appreciate your support as we work to make our services accessible and user-friendly for everyone.

About Third Party Content and Features

Our online products may include content and utilities from third-party sites and products. While we do not control third-party content, we are committed to working with our partners and vendors to report and address accessibility issues where possible.

Feedback or Questions?

If you experience an accessibility issue with BiblioCommons websites or have any questions or accessibility concerns, please contact your library.