Digital Accessibility Handbook for Libraries

“Accessibility is often a subject that is the afterthought in planning, renovations, or daily interactions for many businesses and organizations. Libraries are no different. Understanding and trying to grasp what is necessary to be more proactive, more so compliant, with accessibility can be a monumental task. Luckily, the authors of this book have made this responsibility achievable and shed light on an unintentionally overlooked population of the library community … This is a very valuable resource and is recommended to anyone that will be working in accessibility and does not know where to start. This book is recommended for all libraries. It explains all the laws and policies that rule accessibility and is up to date. It is also great for someone who might want a refresher on accessibility. This book would also be good for any university, Human Resources Department, or an American Disabilities Act Department that works with libraries.” – Journal of Hospital Librarianship

Carli Spina is an Associate Professor and the Head of Research & Instructional Services at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She regularly publishes, presents, and teaches about Universal Design, accessibility, and user experience in libraries. She is the author of Creating Inclusive Libraries by Applying Universal Design: A Guide (2021).

Rebecca Albrecht Oling (MLS, CPACC) is the Director of Digital Accessibility at Purchase College, SUNY. Promoted to Librarian in 2024, Oling has worked to shape approaches to digital accessibility on her campus and beyond. Aside from her research and writing, she consults on accessibility best practices and leads trainings that empower people to create a more universal experience.

Both Spina and Oling have worked within SUNY to co-lead a group of librarians to hone skills and thinking in this area resulting in the Library Procurement Accessibility Toolkit, an ongoing project. They currently co-chair a group reviewing the SUNY libraries’ implementation of the Electronic Information Accessibility Policy.