Increasing Accessibility to Academic Library Services with Alt Text, Color Contrast, Captioning, and Transcripts in YouTube Tutorials

Abstract

Accessibility of library resources and services in academic libraries is fundamental to serving the discovery and scholarship needs of students and faculty, regardless of disability status. Equitable access in higher education affects student grades and retention, and within the library, involves making library buildings, video tutorials, library instruction, the website, Libguides, and resources accessible to students. Accessibility is vital for disabled students to obtain a college degree. It complies with federal law while improving access to education for all students, such as English as a second language students, undiagnosed disabled students, and students with different learning styles. This article focuses on how using alt text, color contrast analysis, closed captioning, and transcripts can improve the accessibility of library video tutorials, assisting the disabled and non-disabled students alike in their discovery and scholarship.