Libraries and Digital Collections

One of the issues raised by the Section 508 Guidelines is the need to address the accessibility of electronic documents such as those found in large digital collections such as those commonly found in campus libraries and museums.

While this may seem a daunting task, the reality is that it is law (i.e. Section 508) that such electronic documents be made accessible. University and college campuses should determine whether there are collective efforts underway among state libraries and museums to address these issues, such as professional organizations seeking to establish common standards for the production and online storage of digital documents. Earlier this year, for example, the Digital Planning Summit convened by the Wisconsin Heritage Online group, met to begin the long-term work of establishing common standards and practices for developing and handling digital documents. Among their working groups, one of which is devoted to electronic accessibility, are a dozen-plus librarians from UW System campuses. Stakeholders such as the librarians and IT staff charged with the responsibility of addressing accessibility issues can take advantage of such existing opportunities to collaborate with other professionals as they seek to set standards and meet Section 508 requirements.

Nationwide, the Center on Applied Special Technology (CAST) has set standards for use by developers of digital documents so that their formats are compatible across all and any media used for instructional purposes. The technical protocol document/product developers need to be familiar with are known as the Digital Accessibility Information System (DAISY) standard. What libraries and collection managers more likely need to be familiar with are which of their vendors follow the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS), the format which specifies the application (i.e. in functional combinations, such as audio and partial text; full text and some audio) of the DAISY elements instructional texts need to follow in order to make accurate and reliable print texts accessible to all users of electronic information.

For more information about the DAISY standard, visit the links below:

http://www.daisy.org/publications/docs/20040510214528/DAISY-in-Brief_final.htm

For more information about NIMAS and how it relates to the DAISY standards and XML (extensible markup language), visit the Data Conversion Laboratory at:
http://www.dclab.com/idea.asp
http://www.dclab.com/xml_file_format_blind.asp

Explicit mention of digital collections and libraries in a University or College Electronic Accessibility policy and plan is advisable, as it reflects a campus’ commitment to work toward electronic accessibility, which itself helps mitigate charges that a campus is not doing what it minimally can to promote accessibility without placing “undue burden” on the resources of its constituent units. For an exemplary policy that mentions digital documents as well as all campus IT (hardware and software), visit the University of Minnesota’s Electronic Accessibility Policy online.