Policies and documents
Library and Learning Services accessibility statement
Library and Learning Services is committed to improving accessibility and usability of its resources and services. This statement describes the accessibility of Library and Learning Services resources and services.
For information about the accessibility of the University website, please see the University website accessibility statement.
Library and Learning Services provides access to a wide range of services and information resources including:
- Digital services – Library Catalogue, Specialist Subject Resources (A-Z Databases), A-Z Journals, Reading Lists, Tutorial Bookings
- Digital resources – ebooks, ejournals and databases
- Print resources – books and periodicals
- Digital scanning services
- Repository services - RaY and RaYDaR
- Inter Library Loans
- Special Collections and Archives
Library and Learning Services is committed to making its resources and services accessible in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
We acknowledge that some of the resources and services Library and Learning Services provide may not be accessible to everyone and changes are being made to address this issue. If you find any problems or think we can do more, please email support@yorksj.ac.uk.
Digital services
Library and Learning Services delivers its digital services using third party systems:
- Library Catalogue provided by ESS's Prism and EBSCOhost. Prism is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. EBSCOhost is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. For further information about the accessibility of Prism, see the Library Catalogue accessibility statement. For further information about the accessibility of EBSCOhost, see the EBSCO accessibility guidance.
- Specialist Subject Resources (A-Z Databases) provided by Springshare's LibGuides. LibGuides is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. For further information about the accessibility of LibGuides, please email support@yorksj.ac.uk.
- A-Z Journals provided by EBSCOhost. EBSCOhost is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. For further information about the accessibility of EBSCOhost, see the EBSCO accessibility guidance.
- Reading Lists provided by Talis Aspire. Talis Aspire is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. For further information about the accessibility of Talis Aspire, see the Talis Aspire accessibility statement.
- Tutorial Bookings provided by Microsoft Bookings. Microsoft Bookings is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. For further information about the accessibility of Microsoft Bookings, see the Microsoft accessibility guidance.
- Study Space Bookings provided by Springshare's LibCal. LibCal is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. For further information about the accessibility of LibCal, see Springshare’s accessibility statement.
Digital resources
Library and Learning Services purchase digital resources from a range of third-party suppliers. Accessibility of digital resources is considered at both procurement and contract renewal. We maintain a list of accessibility statements for third-party suppliers, where suppliers make these available: Specialist Subject Resources Accessibility Statements.
If you require this list in a different format, please provide details of the format you would prefer by email to support@yorksj.ac.uk.
For guidance and assistance in using digital resources, users may email or book tutorials with their Academic Liaison Librarian.
Print resources
Library and Learning Services provides a scanning and accessible file service for users who require texts in alternative formats. We can scan anything from one page to an entire book in order to create an accessible digital file. We will attempt to ensure that accessible digital files are OCR readable and accessible to screen reader software, and where appropriate include bookmarking.
To access the service, we ask users to complete a Document Scanning Request form, providing details of the item or reading list required and the preferred format. If a user’s disability would prevent them from using digital files, please email support@yorksj.ac.uk to discuss other alternative formats.
Note: You must be registered to the Library's Accessibility Support service to access this service. To register, use the Library & Learning Services Accessibility Support Service sign up form.
Digital scanning services
The Digital Scanning Service is committed to improving accessibility and usability of the scans it produces. The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) Higher Education (HE) Licence allows the creation of scanned copies of published material in specific circumstances for teaching and in accordance with copyright legislation. Scanning for course modules must be in accordance with the CLA Licence, under which the limits are:
- One article from a periodical, or
- One chapter of a book, or
- 10% of the total publication – whichever is the greater.
Access to scans is provided through the CLA’s Digital Content Store (DCS), in PDF format. The DCS platform is provided by Kortext. For further information about the accessibility of the DCS platform see the Kortext accessibility commitment.
The Digital Scanning Service is committed to making scans accessible in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
We acknowledge that some of the content of the scans may not be accessible to everyone and changes are being made to address this issue. We will attempt to ensure that the scans we produce are OCR readable and accessible to screen reader software, and that images have alternative text. Where another HE institution has already created a scan and uploaded it to the DCS repository, we will inspect the quality of the scan and ensure that it is OCR readable and accessible to screen reader software before adding it to an online reading list.
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix office file documents published before 23 September 2018 if they are not essential to providing our services. We do not plan to edit or fix scans on archived online reading lists.
If users require scans in a different format, please email the Digital Scanning Service at scanning-service@yorksj.ac.uk. Please provide details of the information or resources you would like to access and the format you would prefer.
We are always looking to improve the accessibility of the scans. If you find any problems or think we can do more, please email scanning-service@yorksj.ac.uk.
Repository services - RaY and RayDaR
RaY (Research at York St John)
RaY (Research at York St John) is the University’s institutional repository service. It exists to store, showcase and share the University's research outputs.
For information about the accessibility of RaY, please see the RaY accessibility statement.
RaYDaR (Research at York St John Data Repository)
RaYDaR (Research at York St John Data Repository) is the University’s open data repository service. It exists to store, showcase and share the University's research data.
For information about the accessibility of RaYDaR, please see the RaYDaR accessibility statement.
Inter-Library loans
If a user requires a resource that is not held or owned by Library and Learning Services, users can use the inter-library loans service and get the resource from another Library. Accessible inter-library loans are available to order. We will attempt to ensure that accessible inter-library loans files are OCR readable and accessible to screen reader software. If a user’s disability would prevent them from using digital files, please email interlibrary@yorksj.ac.uk to discuss other alternative formats.
Special collections and archives
Library and Learning Services hold a small special collections and archive. The special collections and archive catalogue is available via Jisc Archive Hub. For catalogue accessibility details, see the Jisc Archive Hub Accessibility and Disclaimers statement.
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix office file documents published before 23 September 2018 if they are not essential to providing our services. We do not plan to edit or fix historical documents related to Library and Learning Services resources and services.
If users require any of the Library and Learning Services resources in a different format, please email Library and Learning Services at support@yorksj.ac.uk. Please provide details of the information or resources you would like to access and the format you would prefer.