Hello, Trevor,
We've had a thread on the Universal Access List (uaccess-l) about
access to relational databases, like Oracle's. I'm no expert on
library systems, but for libraries I suspect you are dealing with
a different kind of database. I've not heard of OVID, but by your
mention of a "browser" being used, I imagine these library databases
are available on web sites. If so they are possibly subject to 508
and ADA rules. However I don't know that the Web Access Initative (WAI)
has tackled access to databases via the web (except for hypertext
databases designed as sets of linked web pages). What kind of interface do
your library databases provide?
Cheers from Chiswick,
John
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In message <[log in to unmask]>
Trevor Wilks via [log in to unmask] writes:
>We seem to have a reasonably accessible Web based Library catalog and
>database system. Some aspects of the databases are difficult but with
>support especially a concerted effort from myself and the database
>librarians experienced students blind seem to be having reasonable success
>even with the infamous "OVID" databases. It does depend obviously on the
>browser and the screenreader being used.
>At 14:28 21/04/99 -0500, you wrote:
>>I don't have a direct answer, at least specifically in terms of
>>library catalogs. I suspect that the issues you raise are common to
>>many interfaces, not just library catalogs.
>>
>>I just took a look at "'Handicapped access' hits the Web" on ZDNet,
>>the Ziff Davis Web site. Go to www.zdnet.com and look for that title.
>> One of the links is to the US Department of Justice documents on
>>Section 508 for givernment agencies. Go to
>>www.usdoj.gov/crt/508/508docs.html and take a look at the "Component
>>questionaire" segments on software accessibility, Web page
>>accessibility, and Information/Transaction Machine accessibility. I
>>think we should all be requiring vendors to toe the line on this
>>stuff. If we demand it, they'll resond eventually.
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Access the word, access the world Tel/fax +44 181 742 3170/8715
John Nissen Email to [log in to unmask]
Cloudworld Ltd., Chiswick, London, UK http://www.tommy.demon.co.uk
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