Library automation software developer Ex Libris has released the newest version of its library system software, which includes feedback from, and collaboration with, a US consortium that helps firms make their technology more accessible to users with disabilities.
The company’s Voyager 7.0 integrated library system (ILS) includes a range of accessibility and usability enhancements, designed to comply with W3C web content accessibility guidelines and regulatory requirements.
Ex Libris developers worked with the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), as part of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) web accessibility consortium, to ensure that the redesigned system would meet the needs of users with disabilities.
The IBHE web accessibility consortium works with software vendors such as Ex Libris and their product management, business analysis, development, and quality assurance teams to define coding practices that ensure accessibility in product design and quality assurance stages.
As an example, the IBHE web accessibility consortium simulated the experience of a user accessing the software through screen readers. As a result, issues came to light that were later addressed in development. A screen reader is software which converts text into speech, assisting visually impaired or learning disabled people to use the computer.
In March, Ex Libris Voyager product manager Mike Dicus, and UIUC coordinator of assistive communication and information technology accessibility Jon Gunderson, presented a case study at California State University Northridge’s conference, one of the largest conferences in the area of accessibility in North America. The presentation focused on the importance of bringing together library and disability service professionals, students with disabilities, web accessibility specialists from higher education institutions, and providers of electronic library resources to bring about a product that serves users with a wide range of needs. Dicus and Gunderson described how such cooperation serves to improve functional accessibility and usability of electronic library resources.
Ex Libris provides automation solutions for academic libraries, and has customers in about 70 countries. Around half of the firm's workforce works in Jerusalem.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 30, 2008
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