This accessibility statement applies to all sites built using SpringShare's LibApps suite including LibGuides (library.soton.ac.uk), LibCal (libcal.soton.ac.uk), and LibWizard (southampton.libwizard.com).
These websites are run by the University of Southampton Library Services. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
We've also made the website text as simple as possible to understand where possible.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
We know some parts of the website are not accessible:
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read or audio recording: Email us at Libenqs@soton.ac.uk Reporting accessibility problems with the website.
The Library Services website also acts as a gateway for a number of third-party services over which Southampton has no direct control. Where accessibility issues arise in relation to third-party services, and these issues are not already noted in the service's Accessibility Statement(s), Southampton will contact the appropriate supplier and encourage them to take remedial action. Third-party services which can be accessed through the Library Services website are listed below, and where available, a link to the Accessibility Statement from the supplier of that service has been provided:
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 are not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service(EASS).
The University of Southampton Library Services is committed to making its websites accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018). Compliance Status This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 in conformance with the AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below. You can also see the full list of the WCAG 2.1 on the W3 website.
Some images do not have a text alternative, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content). We plan to add text alternatives for all images by September 2020. Web-authors will be given training on adding alternative text to images. We will also review a sample of new images periodically to ensure that images have alternative text.
In some instances, content may fail the WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum). The website styles will fit the contrast requirements, but content created by web-authors may not be. Web authors will be given training on contrast and content will be reviewed periodically to ensure that content will not fail this criterion.
In-house written code may fail the WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks. This code mainly includes headers and footers which will be updated to meet this success criterion by the 23rd September 2020.
Some links may fail the WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) by not holding the full context of the link. The most common instances of these will be the full URL link or a link attached to the phrase "click here". Web-authors have been taught about how to form links and links will be periodically reviewed and changed to ensure that they are removed.
We currently have no items we would classify as disproportionate burden. This may change as regulations and content changes, or if items are discovered that we would classify under this heading.
Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have PDFs with information on how users can access our services. By September 2020, we plan to either fix or replace them with accessible versions.
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 23 2018 if they are not essential to providing our services. For example, we do not currently plan to fix Special Collections content. If you need to access this content and cannot, please contact us and we can look into this specifically.
We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.