Unified Library Management System (ULMS) LibrarySearch accessibility statement

There are a number of customisation options for your browser and device that could help you use this website and other websites more effectively.   

AbilityNet provide advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.  

Explore some of our recommendations for accessibility tools: 

Accessibility Tools 

University of Kent  

University of Greenwich 

Canterbury Christ Church University 

Please contact your home institution if you have any problems; be as specific and detailed as you can: 

• If you are experiencing issues with accessing information or using LibrarySearch 
• If you find an accessibility problem not listed on this statement 

• If you have positive feedback on the accessibility considerations made. 

Contact

• Contact University of Kent
• Contact University of Greenwich
• Contact Canterbury Christ Church University 

We’ve designed our content to be as accessible as possible. If you still experience barriers, you can request alternative formats from your home institution: 

• University of Kent
• University of Greenwich
• Canterbury Christ Church University 

If you have reported a problem with LibrarySearch, or asked for an alternative format, but you are not happy with our response, you can contact us to register your difficulty. This helps us improve our systems.  

·       Contact University of Kent 

·       Contact University of Greenwich 

·       Contact Canterbury Christ Church University 

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). 

If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

The ULMS Collaboration are committed to making LibrarySearch accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

LibrarySearch is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

We formally test the accessibility of key user journeys that represent the breadth of content across our website on a regular basis against WCAG 2.1 AA standards. 

Some parts of LibrarySearch may not work for everyone. Below are known issues that we either need to fix, cannot fix, or do not need to fix right now.

If you find something that does not work that we missed, remember to contact us.

This section covers issues that we need to fix and are working to do so. 

LibrarySearch is a tailored version of a third party platform developed by SirsiDynix called Enterprise/Portfolio which means that some aspects of its accessibility are outside of our immediate control. We have based parts of this accessibility statement on the SirsiDynix accessibility conformance report international edition VPAT® Version 2.3 (Revised) – February 2020 (Enterprise and Portfolio) (more information available on request). 

We list below further areas within LibrarySearch that we know are not fully accessible in some parts of LivrarySearch. We plan to fix or provide alternatives for all issues that we are made aware of alongside our periodic internal testing and auditing processes:

Images without a description

Some images in the LibrarySearch user interface do not have a description or alternative text. People with screen readers or other assistive devices rely on these descriptions to understand the image content and purpose.

Other images which are purely decorative are not identified as such as they do not have empty alt fields or relevant Aria labels (WCAG: 1.1.1).

Landmarks and elements with duplicate labels and IDs

Some of the elements on the page have duplicate labels. Similarly some of the container landmarks do not have unique roles or labels. This impacts on the usability of the webpage by not being able to identify specific elements or types of content (WCAG: 4.1.2).

Mislabelled elements or missing labels

Some of the user interface elements, such as buttons and headings, do not have appropriate labels that define their roles. This includes labels which do not match the purpose and elements which do not have a label (WCAG: 4.1.2).

Elements are visually styled to look like a specific component type but are not created as such in the HTML code. For example the list of open tickets on the 'my requests' page is not a list in the markup.

Contrast Issues

Some pages contain elements with low contrast between the elements and its background particularly when under focus. This can cause the text to be difficult to read, especially for those with low vision, poor eyesight or colour blindness. 

LibrarySearch is developed by a third party, SirsiDynix, with customisation applied locally by the university. Thus some of the issues with the colour contrast may be fixed by ULMS, however, some issues may be part of the LibrarySearch platform that we cannot control (WCAG: 1.4.3).

This section covers issues that we cannot fix right now. We’ve assessed the cost of fixing these issues but believe that doing so would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the law.

Not applicable.

This section covers issues that we do not need to fix right now. The law calls these exemptions.

Not applicable.

LibrarySearch is a tailored version of a third party platform developed by SirsiDynix called Enterprise/Portfolio. We do not have control over and are not responsible for the accessibility of some parts of the platform, but we make best endeavours to work with the third party to improve its accessibility. Please see the SirsDynix accessibility page for further information.

PDFs and electronic documents

PDFs (Portable Document Format) and electronic documents 

LibrarySearch is a discovery layer for the physical and electronic resources held by the libraries of the ULMS. The electronic items are provided by external suppliers. The accessibility of these platforms and their content is outside the scope of this statement.  

 If you experience an accessibility barrier with any of the content from LibrarySearch please contact us. Please also explore some of our recommendations for tools that can make your online experience better. If you have a qualifying print disability, you may be able to request alternative formats. 

For more information please contact us. 

This statement was prepared on 28 April 2020. It was last reviewed on 12 April 2022. 

This website was last tested on 20 May 2020. The test was carried out by the ULMS Collaboration.