Conform to WCAG 2.2 / 2.1 AA (or higher if required). Use the W3C docs as living reference.
Semantic HTML, headings in order, ARIA only when necessary, proper labels for forms, alt text for images, captions/transcripts for audio/video, keyboard navigation, visible focus states.
Testing:
Tip: Semantic HTML is preferred over ARIA. Only use ARIA attributes when native HTML elements can't achieve the desired accessibility.
Mobile-first CSS, responsive navigation, critical CSS inlined, lazy load media, compress assets, use Lighthouse or WebPageTest for performance targets.
Prominent catalog/search box, faceted search, typeahead suggestions, clear results metadata (availability, format, location), permalink to records, friendly error/no-results suggestions. Follow library UX patterns from successful systems.
Tip: Study successful library discovery systems like BiblioCommons for proven UX patterns and search behaviors.
Use plain language, short scannable pages, headings and lists, avoid internal jargon, maintain editorial style guide, indicate service hours and contact clearly.
Provide accessible PDFs/Word docs: proper tagging, readable text (not scanned images), bookmarks/headings in PDFs, and accessible captions for multimedia. Use ALA's best practices for library digital docs.
Tip: Never publish scanned PDFs without OCR. All text must be selectable and readable by screen readers.
Minimize PII, use HTTPS, secure forms, CSP headers, cookie/privacy notice, comply with local privacy laws, protect patron data in analytics and third-party widgets.
Have a documented accessibility policy, content lifecycle (who publishes/edits), QA checklist for releases, and routine audits. IMLS/ALA resources discuss governance and public-access responsibilities.
Automated tests (axe core, pa11y, Lighthouse), unit/CI tests for critical flows, periodic manual audits, user testing with patrons including those with disabilities. Use published checklists (Deque, institutional examples).
Tip: Automated tools catch about 30-40% of accessibility issues. Manual testing with real assistive technology is essential.
Essential tools for automated accessibility and performance testing:
Tip: Integrate automated tools into your CI/CD pipeline to catch accessibility issues before deployment.
Real-world implementation examples from academic and public institutions:
Pragmatic UX tips specifically for library websites (homepage strategy, navigation, search prominence).
Tip: These blogs provide real-world examples of what works in library discovery interfaces and user behavior patterns.
Recent reviews & books on library website trends summarize what modern public libraries implement (discovery, accessibility, mobile, content strategy).
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