Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present findings of a study which examined the searching experience of university students with a print disability and their use of screen reading software to navigate three proprietary databases.Design/methodology/approachParticipants completed a series of tasks in three different online databases using their screen‐reading software. Screen‐recording software provided video and audio documentation of the process. Survey data were collected pre‐ and post‐study as well as after each database search session.FindingsThe paper provides insights on the information‐seeking behavior of students with print disabilities as well as the barriers encountered while navigating online databases using screen‐reading software.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses only on a small sample of university students with print disabilities and therefore lacks a control group of non‐print‐disabled students against which the results could be measured.Practical implicationsDatabase vendors are aware of the barriers their databases pose for users of screen readers. It is in the best interest of vendors to assist libraries in promoting the accessible features that already exist in their databases. Libraries can assist students by providing database instruction tailored to users of screen readers and by assisting database vendors in usability feedback and in marketing options.Originality/valueParticipants consisted of students with learning, visual and mobility disabilities and who were native users of screen‐reading software. There is a lack of research on the intersection of databases design and its impacts on the information literacy skills of students with print disabilities. This paper provides some insights on the first step in the information‐seeking process (gathering information) by students with a print disability and the barriers encountered.
Highlights
Norda Majekodunmi is an Assistant Librarian at Scott Library, York University, Toronto, Canada
The disability rights community in Canada has long fought for the rights of person with disabilities to participate fully in all aspect of society including the pursuit of higher education
This study aims to investigate the impact of library database design on students who use screen readers
Summary
Norda Majekodunmi is an Assistant Librarian at Scott Library, York University, Toronto, Canada. She serves as the Liaison to Library Accessibility Services. The disability rights community in Canada has long fought for the rights of person with disabilities to participate fully in all aspect of society including the pursuit of higher education. While recent reports indicated that persons with disabilities are still on the economic margins of Canadian society, more and more students with disabilities are graduating from higher education institutions (Statistics Canada, 2008). This study in particular looks at the impact the evolving nature of library databases have on students with print disabilities who use screen reading software to navigate their on-line learning. This study sets out to see what barriers are preventing students from completing the first step of the information gathering process - locating and selecting appropriate articles - and what are the consequences if any for these students
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