Website accessibility evaluation of central libraries of 20 superior universities associated with Ministry of Science‚ Research‚ and Technology based on worldwide web consortium guidelines (W3C)
Subject Areas : Journal of Knowledge Studieshajar Zarei 1 , frozan Bagheri Garmarodi 2
1 - Faculty member of Department of library and information science, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, Tonekabon,Iran
2 - Department of library and information science, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, Tonekabon,Iran
Keywords: Accessibility- evaluation, Academic libraries- websites, Mechanical evaluation, Manual evaluation, Web accessibility consortium (W3C), Eval Access application,
Abstract :
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine website accessibility status of central libraries of 20 superior universities associated with Ministry of Science ‚ Research ‚ and Technology based on worldwide web consortium guidelines. Methodology: This paper is an applied study using evaluation method in accordance with 15 indices extracted from guidelines of web content accessibility of the consortium. ‚ Accessibility of 20 central libraries’ websites of superior universities associated with Ministry of Science‚ Research‚ and Technology which have gained 1-20 grades due to university ranking of the Ministry‚ have been evaluated by technical method (mechanical – manual) based on indices of the first priority extracted from worldwide web consortium. Mechanical evaluation was performed by EvalAccess 2.0 application and manual evaluation was developed by using the checklist extracted from indices of the first priority of worldwide web consortium guideline. Findings: The data demonstrated that in mechanical evaluation method‚ the central library website and the document center of Gilan University with 19 points and grade 1‚ and the central library Website of Mashhad Ferdosi University with 472 points and grade 18 are the most and the least accessible websites respectively. In manual evaluation the average of websites accessibility is 23%. Totally the accessibility rate of the websites is below 50% that is too far from the desirable outcome. Finally‚ some techniques and suggestions have been offered to improve websites accessibility. Conclusion: The paper is the second applied study in the field of website accessibility evaluation and the first applied study in the field of Iranian academic websites accessibility evaluation. The study data may develop a global perspective to policy makers to design accessible websites.
حسن زاده، محمد؛ نویدی، فاطمه؛ حسینی، مهدی (1388). عصر اطلاعات و دولت دسترس پذیر. تهران: کتابدار.
حسن زاده، محمد؛ نویدی، فاطمه (1389). مقایسه کاربرد انواع روش های ارزیابی دسترس پذیری وب سایت ها (مطالعه موردی: وب سایت وزارتخانه های دولت جمهوری اسلامی ایران). تحقیقات اطلاع رسانی و کتابخانه های عمومی، 16(2)، 5-27.
نویدی، فاطمه (1386). ارزیابی دسترس‌پذیری وب سایت وزارتخانه های دولت جمهوری اسلامی ایران. پایان نامه کارشناسی ارشد کتابداری و اطلاع رسانی، دانشگاه تربیت مدرس، تهران.
Bray, Marty, Pugalee, David, Flowers, Claudia P., Algozzine, Bob (2007). Accessibility of Middle Schools' Web Sites for Students with Disabilities. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 80(4), 169-178. Abstract Retrieved July 21, 2011, from http://www.tandfonline.com
Byerley, S.L., Chambers, M.B., Thohira, M. (2007). Accessibility of web-based library databases:the vendors’ perspectives in 2007. Library Hi Tech, 25(4), 509-527.
Eyadat, Mohammad, Fisher, Dorothy (2007). Web accessibility in information systems. International Journal of Web Information Systems, 3(4), 363 – 377. Retrieved July 21, 2011, from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1641926
Freire, Andre P., Fortes, Renata P. M., Turine, Marcelo A. S. and Paiva, Debora M. B. (2008). An evaluation of web accessibility metrics based on their attributes. In SIGDOC '08 Proceedings of the 26th annual ACM international conference on Design of communication, 73-80. New York: ACM. Retrieved July 21, 2011, from
Green, Ravonne A., Huprich, Julia (2006). Assessing the Library Homepages of COPLAC Institutions for Section 508 Accessibility Errors: Who's Accessible, Who's Not, and How the Online WebXACT Assessment Tool Can Help. Journal of Access Services, 4(1-2), 59-73. Abstract Retrieved July 21, 2011, from http://www.tandfonline.com
Green, Ravonne A.; Huprich, Julia (2009). Web Accessibility and Accessibility Instruction. Journal of Access Services, 6(1-2), 116-136. Retrieved July 21, 2011, from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15367960802247825
Kaphingst, Kimberly A.; Zanfini Christine J.; Emmons, Karen M. (2006). Accessibility of Web Sites Containing Colorectal Cancer Information to Adults with Limited Literacy (United States). Cancer Causes & Control, 17(2), 147-151. Retrieved July 21, 2011, from http://www.jstor.org/pss/29736443
Hackett, Stephanie R. (2000). Accessibility, complexity, and readability of internet websites through time. Retrieved July 18, 2011, from: http://www.pitt.edu/~curbcut/Hackett_Thesis_FinalDraft.PDF
Hackett, Stephanie; Parmanto, Bambang (2005). A longitudinal evaluation of accessibility: higher education web sites, Internet Research, 15(3), 281 – 294.
Harper, K.A.; Dewaters, j. (2008). A Quest for website accessibility in higher education institutions. the internet and higher education, 11(3-4), 160-164.
Hong, Soongoo; Katerattanakul, Pairin; Lee, Dae-hyung (2007). Evaluating government website accessibility: Software tool vs human experts. Management Research News, 31(1),27 – 40. Retrieved July 21, 2011, from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm? articleid= 1641957&show=html
LaPlant, Bill; Census Bureau, U.S.; Laskowski, Sharon, (2001). National Institute of Standards and Technology, Stimson, Mark, Corporation, Oracle Report on UPA Workshop 6: Exploring Measurement and Evaluation Methods For Accessibility. Retrieved July 21, 2011, from: http://www.upassoc.org/conferences_and_events/upa_conference/2001/reg/program/workshops/w6.html
Shi, Yuquan (2006). The accessibility of Chinese local government websites: An exploratory study. Government Information Quarterly, 24(2), 377-403.
Sloan, D., Gregor; P, Booth P.; Gibson, L. (2002). Auditing accessibility of UK higher education websites. Interacting with Computers, 14, 313-325.
Sloan, David (2008). The importance of web accessibility. In Jenny Craven, Web Accessibility: Practical Advice for the Library and Information Professional (41-56). London: Facet Publishing.
Techno site group (2004). Accessibility of Bank Websites in Spain. Retrieved July 21, 2011, from: http://www.discapnet.es/Castellano/areastematicas/Accesibilidad/Observatorio_infoaccesibilidad/Documents/Tema_08/english/html/Accessibility_Bank_Websites.htm
W3C (1999). Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0. Retrieved July 2, 2011, from: http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/WAI-WEBCONTENT-19990505/
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) (2011). Retrieved July 21, 2011, from: http://www.w3.org/WAI
Williams, Russell; Rattray, Rulzion (2005). UK and US hotel web content accessibility: Mandates for action. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 17(1), 78 – 87. Retrieved July 18, 2011, from http://www.emeraldinsight.com /journals.htm? articleid=1463576
Yu, Daihua Xie; Parmanto, Bambang (2011). U.S. state government websites demonstrate better in terms of accessibility compared to federal government and commercial websites. Government Information Quarterly, 28( 4), 484-490. Retrieved July 21, 2011, from
Yu, Holly (2002). Web accessibility and the law: recommendations for implementation. Library Hi Tech, 20(4), 406 – 419. Retrieved July 21, 2011, from: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=861342
