Accessibility Statement

Digital Accessibility | Physical Accessibility | Accommodation Requests | Feedback

The WashU Libraries are committed to providing inclusive, equitable access to our collections, services, and spaces for all users, including those with disabilities. As part of this commitment, we work to identify, remove, and prevent barriers to digital and physical library access.

In alignment with the American Library Association’s recommendations, we recognize the importance of making our library policies, resources, and services accessible by design to meet the needs of all patrons. We also remain committed to providing adaptations and accommodations when needed. We strive to meet or exceed requirements from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) along with relevant Missouri state accessibility statutes and other Washington University in St. Louis policies and campus-wide initiatives.

Our decision to develop an accessibility statement reflects our intention to formalize and prioritize this work. Accessibility is integral to our mission and aligns with our strategic focus on infrastructure, collections, and collaboration. We work to reduce barriers to accessing our collections and engage with partners across campus to create a more inclusive library experience. We aim to ensure our digital platforms and physical spaces are accessible for all.

Digital Accessibility

Digital content covered by this statement include born-digital and digitized material owned by the WashU Libraries as well as the platforms used to create, curate, and display them.

University EIT Accessibility Policy

WashU’s Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Accessibility Policy applies to the university’s websites, electronic documents, video and audio content, and other applications. This policy requires university websites to comply with specified Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Compatibility

The WashU Libraries website is a WordPress system that interacts with multiple platforms, including but not limited to:

When navigating from one system to another, user experiences may vary depending on the computer operating system and web browser. These sites work best with the latest Chrome or Firefox web browser and pop-up blockers turned off. At a minimum, they require updated versions of the following browsers:

Third Party Vendor Content & Platforms

The Libraries website contains thousands of links to external sites managed by third party vendors. While we are not responsible for the accessibility of these linked websites, we do our best to select websites that meet accessibility standards. When we subscribe to content from publisher websites, we also aim to make sure that they adhere to accessibility standards.

Open Educational Resources

The WashU Open Educational Resource (OER) Interest Group has a vested interest in making sure Open Educational Resources are created and adapted with accessibility for people with disabilities as a first priority. This group, which works between the Libraries and other campus entities, curates resources and consults on questions regarding accessible OERs. A list of a few of such resources can be found on the Creative Commons and Other Open Licensing Guide.

WashU uses Pressbooks, a free and open-source book content management system to publish books, such as Open Educational Resources, to the public web and produce exports in multiple formats, including EPUB and PDF. Pressbooks is typically installed with a suite of complementary plugins and themes that extend the tool’s default publishing capabilities, meeting several WCAG AA success criteria for authors and readers. For more information, visit Pressbooks’ Accessibility page.

Physical Accessibility

Detailed information about physical accessibility and available assistance can be found on the Libraries Accessibility page for the following WashU Libraries on the Danforth campus: John M. Olin Library, Al and Ruth Kopolow (Business) Library, East Asian Library, Gaylord Music Library, and Kenneth and Nancy Kranzberg Art & Architecture Library.

For accessibility information about the following three libraries, please contact them directly: Bernard Becker Medical Library, Brown School Library, and Law Library.

Ongoing Initiatives

We actively work to improve Libraries accessibility. Guided by the Libraries’ strategic priorities and the university’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, we are undertaking the following efforts:

• Accessibility Task Force: A cross-functional team dedicated to assessing and advancing accessibility practices across the Libraries.
• Accessibility Coordinator: A designated staff member who leads and supports accessibility initiatives, liaises with campus partners, and coordinates training and outreach.
• Internal LibGuides Accessibility Audits: Regular reviews of our research and instructional guides to ensure they meet accessibility standards.
• Best Practice Guidelines: Development and adoption of internal standards and checklists to guide the creation of accessible content and services.
• Annual Reviews: Regular assessment of accessibility to identify progress and areas for improvement.
• SiteImprove Subscription: Use of a web governance tool to monitor and enhance the accessibility of our library websites.
• Vendor Accessibility and VPATs: We are beginning to review and request Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs) from vendors as part of our procurement process.
• Library Accessibility Alliance (LAA) Assessments: Refer to evaluations conducted on behalf of the LAA on commonly used e-resources.
• HathiTrust: The WashU Libraries take part in HathiTrust Digital Library’s Accessible Text Request Service. This service gives WashU users with print disabilities special access to copyrighted materials for use with adaptive technologies.

Accommodation Requests

If you encounter barriers in accessing library spaces, collections, or services, please contact the Libraries Accessibility Team at LibrariesAccessibility@wustl.edu. Reports are initially reviewed by the Libraries Accessibility Coordinator Jamie Emery and, in instances related to library space, the Director of Space Planning & Projects Paul McArthur.

In cases where an accessibility solution cannot be immediately implemented due to structural, technological, or other limitations, WashU Libraries will take a variety of approaches depending on the nature of the case. This could involve:

• Engaging with other campus partners, the University Librarians Council, and/or university-level leadership
• Seeking interim accommodations or alternative service models when available
• Documenting the case and associated background, and reassessing during annual accessibility reviews

Feedback

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our digital resources, physical spaces, collections, and services. If you have questions or concerns, please email LibrariesAccessibility@wustl.edu.

Date last updated: October 27, 2025