This guide and reference book helps librarians understand and implement new digital accessibility guidelines issued recently in both the United States and the European Union in relation to digital materials, events, education, and licensing. It also covers the relevant guidelines in the UK.

The United States (US) government recently issued new guidelines for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that greatly expand requirements for digital accessibility for websites, apps, and other digital content, for education activities with online components, and events with online components. These guidelines apply to all local, state, and federal government entities, as well as other entities accepting federal funds. As such, they apply to all public libraries, public school libraries, public community college libraries, public university libraries, and many libraries at private educational institutions receiving federal funds. At the same time, the European Union (EU) has passed a comprehensive European Accessibility Act with parallel digital accessibility goals and similar requirements that will apply to EU libraries.

Many libraries have historically been among the strongest supporters of disabled people in their communities, taking the lead in adopting new accessible formats and assistive hardware and software among the public sector, while also working to make general products and materials accessible. Nevertheless, these new guidelines will mean working to make existing things accessible in line with the new requirements and ensuring every newly designed, developed, or purchased item, service, or program complies with the regulations going forward.

In a concise and understandable manner, this book describes the importance of accessibility; designing for accessibility; unique challenges of accessibility; the historical relationships between libraries and disability; existing accessibility guidelines; the new guidelines for both the US and the EU and existing guidelines in the UK; best practices for digital content, events, and educational activities under the new guidelines; the impacts of the new guidelines on purchasing and licensing; key resources; and ways to incorporate the new guidelines into making the library an inclusive and welcoming space for disabled community members.