Policy on Accessibility of Special Collections' Online Information

Policy Statement and Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to inform and guide the actions of Special Collections staff in seeking alternative access for disabled library users to the content of files published on the Special Collections website or in the Special Collections portion of the library’s institutional repository. This policy also serves to inform users and therefore is external.

Policy Definitions

Definitions provided here are from the Society of American Archivists' Dictionary of Archival Terminology, (accessed February 21, 2022).

Institutional Repository: A digital repository used to manage and disseminate content on behalf of a corporate body or collaborative and its community. Originally envisioned as a means of digital dissemination of scholarly work, institutional repositories’ remit has grown to include other digital repository functions and their contents to include born-digital records and digitized content from archives and libraries. Institutional repositories are especially in use in higher education.

Reformat: To create a copy with a format or structure different from the original, especially for preservation or access. To migrate information from one carrier to another.

Policy

The Mary Couts Burnett Library Special Collections welcomes requests by users with disabilities for assistance in accessing electronic information and data. We endeavor to provide such users equal access comparable to those who do not have disabilities, offer consultation to pursue improved research outcomes for users who may be having difficulty accessing our online resources, and strive to provide descriptions of our online resources that optimally serve disabled researchers.

 If the format of any material on our website interferes with access to information, we may be reached at https://library.tcu.edu/spcoll/contact.asp or at 817.257.6455 to discuss how we may be of assistance. Texas Christian University students are encouraged to seek additional resources at Student Access & Accommodation.

 In order to be able to provide the most helpful assistance, we request to be informed of:

1. Nature of the accessibility issue.
2. Web address (URL) of the material with which there is difficulty.
3. Contact information of the user seeking assistance.

More information about accessing digital file formats online has been provided by the National Archives and Records Administration at https://www.archives.gov/global-pages/accessibility?_ga=2.188705448.1840577626.1645462420-1526373751.1645462420 (last accessed February 21, 2022). This information should be consulted prior to any discussion of the possible reformatting of published digital content, as Special Collections' ability to engage in reformatting is limited by available resources.

Administrative Responsibility

Mary Couts Burnett Library

Policy History

Approved by Library Administrative Council 2/28/2022

Issued 3/1/2022

Related Policies and Information

National Archives and Records Administration https://www.archives.gov/global-pages/accessibility?_ga=2.188705448.1840577626.1645462420-1526373751.1645462420 

Texas State Library and Archives Commission https://www.tsl.texas.gov/accessibility

Reference and Outreach Section, Society of American Archivists https://www2.archivists.org/groups/reference-access-and-outreach-section/guidelines-for-accessible-archives-for-people-with-disabilities