Missouri River Regional Library Misleading Compliance Claims. A Failure of Digital Due Diligence
Public libraries are the backbone of community information. However, when a library publicly claims WCAG 2.1 AA and ADA compliance while maintaining a website full of barriers, it isn’t just a technical glitch, it is a violation of a fundamental civil right.
Recently, the Missouri River Regional Library (MRRL) launched its new website and went public with a major announcement. Through social media posts and emails to patrons, the library claimed its new digital home was fully ADA compliant and compatible with all assistive technologies. This “success story” was even reported by the News Tribune.
The truth of the matter is that the website falls significantly short of these claims and is in reality not WCAG conformant and not ADA compliant.
A Failure of Due Diligence
Good intentions do not equal ADA compliance. While the vendor may have provided misleading information, the library is the gatekeeper of its own community’s access. If a vendor makes false claims about accessibility, that is a contract dispute; but if a library publishes those claims without verifying them, that is a civil rights issue.
The DOJ is clear: public entities are responsible for the accessibility of what they provide. By failing to perform due diligence, such as demanding proof of WCAG conformance, the library has allowed a vendor’s shortcomings to translate into a direct barrier for Missouri taxpayers. Accountability starts with demanding proof, not just promises. Public entities must treat web accessibility with the same level of rigorous inspection as physical fire codes or structural safety.
Critical Barriers Uncovered During Testing
Our technical audit revealed that for many patrons, some portions of the library’s services are effectively invisible or unusable. These are not minor inconveniences; they are foundational failures:
- Mouse-Dependent Functionalities: Sections of the homepage and calendar rely on mouse-over actions to reveal content. This provides unequal access to information, as it effectively denies that same information to patrons who navigate via keyboard or screen reader. (Failure: WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard)
- Failure of Access to Program Information: Key information regarding library programs on the kids, teens, and adults pages is advertised through images without proper text alternatives. Dates, times, and locations are entirely hidden from patrons who are visually disabled. (Failures: WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content, WCAG 1.4.5 Images of Text)
- Non-Compliant Color Contrast: Images of text fail to meet required contrast ratios, specifically observed on the Kids, Adults and Teens pages, creating a barrier for patrons with low vision. (Failure: WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast Minimum)
- Inaccessible Web Forms: Multiple forms on the website contain foundational failures, including the use of non-descriptive asterisks for required fields without programmatic labeling. (Failures: WCAG 3.3.1 Error Identification, WCAG 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions, and WCAG 3.3.3 Error Suggestion)
Technical Breakdown: 19 WCAG Failures Identified
Our manual and automated evaluations identified 19 specific WCAG failures across the website and the events calendar. These 19 instances fall into 12 regulatory categories (Success Criteria). None of these barriers meet the limited exceptions allowed by the ADA.
Level A Violations (9 Foundational Categories)
- 1.1.1 Non-text Content | 2. 1.3.1 Info and Relationships | 3. 2.1.1 Keyboard | 4. 2.4.2 Page Titled | 5. 3.1.1 Language of Page | 6. 3.3.1 Error Identification | 7. 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions | 8. 3.3.3 Error Suggestion | 9. 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value
Level AA Violations (3 Regulatory Categories)
What Defines “ADA Compliance”?
For a public entity to call a website “ADA Compliant,” it must first be WCAG conformant. Under the ADA Title II mandate, this means the site must pass every applicable Success Criterion of the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard. A website cannot be considered compliant if it fails foundational requirements like keyboard access or error identification.
True compliance goes beyond purchasing a product or accepting a vendor’s verbal assurance; it demands rigorous manual testing with assistive technologies like screen readers and keyboard navigation to secure definitive proof of accessibility.
The Wins: What the Developers Got Right
Despite the critical barriers noted previously, the site demonstrates several successful accessibility implementations that warrant recognition.
Our audit found that the developers avoided several common “anti-patterns” that often plague library sites:
- No “Accessibility Widgets”: The library correctly avoided using accessibility “overlays” or widgets. These gimmicks are often a disrespect to true inclusion, as they interfere with the actual assistive technologies that disabled patrons already use.
- Proper ARIA Usage: Where ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) was used, it was applied with restraint and proper intent, rather than being over-done.
- Absence of Disruptive Auto-Play: We found no evidence of auto-playing sliders and carousels without user control.
Compliance is More Than a Headline
Public claims of ADA compliance must be backed by technical reality. When a library markets its site as ‘accessible’ despite significant barriers, it misleads the community it serves. Digital equity is not a luxury; it is the law.
Because the Missouri River Regional Library serves a population of over 50,000 residents across Cole and Osage Counties, it falls under the highest tier of the new federal mandate. Under the ADA Title II Web Accessibility Final Rule, institutions of this size are legally required to have all web content (not only the website) and mobile apps meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards by April 24, 2026. This is a continuous obligation that includes maintaining the accessibility of all ongoing digital communications.
We have shared these findings with the library administration and look forward to a timeline for remediation. Our priority is to work collaboratively to ensure the library meets the April 24, 2026, ADA Title II deadline. However, should these critical barriers remain unaddressed, we are prepared to follow the formal administrative process—including notification to county officials and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to ensure ‘Library Services for All’ is a reality for every patron, regardless of how they access the web.