Evaluating opportunities for expanded information access: a study of the accessibility of four online databases

Abstract

The author presents the results of a survey conducted for the purpose of evaluating the accessibility of four proprietary Web‐based online resources: EBSCOhost MasterFile Elite, Electric Library Plus, Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, and The Oxford English Dictionary Online. The survey respondents were computer users who are blind or visually impaired and were already comfortable with using the World Wide Web. The survey was conducted entirely via e‐mail. The survey responses reveal which online resources are accessible but also the elements that comprise an accessible online resource are described. This information can be used as a guide when evaluating other online resources.

Citation

Horwath, J. (2002), "Evaluating opportunities for expanded information access: a study of the accessibility of four online databases", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 199-206. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830210432561