News
The UW Libraries have added four wheelchair charging stations, located in the Odegaard Undergraduate Library, the Open Scholarship Commons in Suzzallo Library, the Research Commons in the Allen Library, and the Foster Business Library. These charging stations were able to be purchased thanks to the UW’s Student Technology Fee (STF). The charging stations are from the Clearview Disability Resource Center and have 24 volt five-amp chargers, as well as a dual USB charging port. They are available to all library…
By UW Libraries Accessibility Working Group It is important to provide equitable environments that allow all students to feel comfortable studying at the Libraries. To that end, in the last few years we have improved accessibility in several ways around the Libraries: audited our physical spaces and electronic resources for accessibility; posted accessibility information on our website to aid in trip planning; created accessibility kits available for check out; and most recently, opened an accessible study room for use by…
NEW! The Economist.com is now available from UW Libraries, adding to the free access to major global news publications you have as a UW student. From news to commentary and analysis on politics, finance, and business, The Economist provides insightful coverage on international drivers of change. The UW Libraries subscription includes full access to daily charts, interactive content, and special reports The countdown clock to graduation has likely started for many Huskies, and finals are approaching. Be sure to bookmark…
The UW Libraries has been assessing third-party subscription resources for accessibility for three years. These resources are the journal websites or database interfaces that researchers use to find information after being linked from the library catalog. It has been an enormous learning experience for all of us. We first had to become familiar with accessibility standards for the web and how to test products against those standards. At first, we wanted to determine which of our subscription products were inaccessible….
Katy Pearce, an associate professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Washington (UW), is dedicated to advancing research in the field of social and political uses of technology, while also supporting students and colleagues. With a focus on digital divides and inequalities and the use of information and communication technologies for marginalized people and social movements in non-democratic states, Pearce is passionate about bridging the gap between the theoretical and lived experiences of people around the world….
The Libraries have been assessing all of our third-party subscription products for accessibility as defined by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). We report our findings to the vendor and in many cases, this process has resulted in system-wide updates to the product that improve accessibility for all users/clients. While we do not have the resources to thoroughly test all of our subscriptions for accessibility, we do run a few basic tests to get a general idea of how accessible…
Co-authored by the UW Libraries Accessibility Working Group Digital resources and services have become an integral part of library functions. While this increases access for many, it can present new barriers for some users with disabilities. To recognize Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we’re sharing more about accessibility audits to help increase digital access and inclusion at the UW Libraries and Press. Projects involving accessibility audits are becoming increasingly common at the UW Libraries and University Press and help ensure we’re…
How regional medical libraries increase access to health information for those who need it most With the ubiquity of online resources, you may not realize the role that libraries (UW Health Sciences Library in particular) play in connecting healthcare professionals with critical medical and health information. Access to accurate, evidence-based health information is particularly challenging in rural or under-resourced communities that often do not have the budget, human resources or information infrastructure that larger communities and healthcare organizations do. Enter…
Happy New Year, Huskies! We are happy to welcome our UW Community back from break! At this time, the Libraries plans to proceed with planned, expanded hours for winter quarter as noted below and on our website; however, these plans are subject to change pending the evolving public health status, new protocols and/or staff availability. Rescheduled: Our first Wednesday concert series for January (in Allen Library lobby) has been rescheduled to Wednesday, January 19th. See calendar for information. Services …
The University of Washington Libraries Accessibility Working Group is pleased to share that accessibility tools are now available to improve equity of access to library resources and services for users with disabilities. Many thanks to the Friends of the Libraries for making this possible with their generous contribution! Fourteen libraries now have an accessibility toolkit with valuable resources for on-site use, including: Lapboards Lapboards can be placed on the lap or across the arms of a wheelchair or mobility scooter….