False Accessibility Statements
While testing the websites of many public libraries, a deeply troubling pattern keeps appearing. Libraries are publishing accessibility statements claiming their websites are accessible, regularly audited, and supported by ongoing staff training. In reality, significant accessibility barriers remain across these sites, in their digital documents, and in the social media they publish.
Image slideshows that contain important information do not work with screen readers. Moving content is missing play and pause controls. Images of text either lack alternative text entirely or include incorrect descriptions. Heading levels are skipped. Forms cannot be used by screen reader users, and required fields are not programmatically identified. PDFs are not properly tagged for accessibility. The color contrast does not meet the minimum standards. Site navigation cannot be completed solely with the keyboard.
These are not minor oversights. They are fundamental accessibility failures that prevent people with disabilities from accessing public library services and information.
Yet the accessibility statements on these websites assert that the library is committed to digital accessibility, conducts regular reviews, provides staff training, and conforms to WCAG 2.1 AA. These claims are difficult to reconcile with the observable barriers present in the digital content. If the website were evaluated today, it would not meet even WCAG 2.0 Level A requirements, calling into question the accuracy of the published statements.
This is not simply a mistake. It is a false and misleading public statement made by an institution that exists to provide equal access.
Public libraries are trusted, publicly funded spaces meant to provide free and open access to information, education, community programs, and civic participation. When a library claims accessibility without evidence, it excludes people with disabilities from the very services it was created to provide.
A public institution cannot claim equal access while actively maintaining barriers.
This is a civil rights issue, not a marketing issue.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights protections, public entities are legally required to provide effective communication and equal access to services, programs, and information. In today’s world, a library website is one of its primary service points.
When a library claims its website is accessible without documentation or real-world functionality to support that claim, it misleads people with disabilities and disregards its obligations.
If a library cannot prove its accessibility claims through testing, report documentation, and visible remediation, then those claims should not exist.
False accessibility statements expose libraries to serious risk.
- They mislead people with disabilities
- They violate public trust
- They increase legal exposure
- They undermine legitimate accessibility work
- They demonstrate awareness of responsibility while failing to meet it
A false statement is often more dangerous than no statement at all.
Why false accessibility claims keep happening in libraries.
- A generic or boilerplate statement was copied and published.
- A vendor promised accessibility without providing evidence.
- An overlay or widget was added and mistaken for true conformance.
- Staff are under pressure to appear compliant.
- There is limited understanding of accessibility requirements.
- There is no internal testing or auditing process.
- New content is published without accessibility review.
None of these explanations excuses the harm being done.
What must exist before a library can claim accessibility or WCAG conformance.
If a library publicly claims accessibility or conformance to WCAG standards, that claim must be supported by real evidence.
At a minimum, that evidence should include:
- A professional accessibility audit.
- Manual and automated testing.
- Keyboard navigation testing.
- Screen reader testing.
- A list of issues mapped to WCAG success criteria.
- A documented remediation plan.
- Proof of issue resolution.
- A schedule for ongoing monitoring.
- Documentation of staff training.
Without this, a conformance claim is neither honest nor defensible.
Whenever possible, transparency is best practice. That means making accessibility reports, or at least a public summary of findings and remediation progress, available to the community.
Public trust requires public proof.
A direct message to public libraries.
If your library currently displays an accessibility statement that claims conformance without documented proof, immediate action is required.
Either provide evidence that supports your claim or revise the statement to reflect your actual status.
Continuing to publish inaccurate information about digital accessibility is not a harmless oversight. It is a civil rights violation that excludes people from participation in public and civic life.
Accessibility is not achieved by writing a sentence on a webpage. It is achieved through ongoing work, accountability, transparency, and respect for every member of the community.
If a library cannot yet say, “We are accessible,” it must at least say, “We are working on it, and we will support you while we do.”
That honesty is where real access begins.