This accessibility statement applies to www.exploreyork.org.uk.

This website is run by Explore York Libraries and Archives Mutual Limited and is the main website for information about our services. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

  • zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
  • navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
  • listen to most of the website using a screen reader

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

  • some images do not have appropriate alternative text
  • some headings are not consistent
  • some of our online forms have buttons which are incorrectly identified
  • some of our PDFs are missing titles
  • there’s a limit to how far you can magnify the maps on our library pages
  • the embedded spreadsheet for reading group sets has no headings

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF or large print please let us know by emailing [email protected]. We will consider your request and get back to you in 2 working days.

If you cannot view the maps on our library pages, call or email the relevant library for directions.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please email [email protected]

Enforcement procedure

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

Some of our libraries and reading cafes have audio induction loops and other accessibility features. To see a full access guide for the library you wish to visit, please use the ‘Disabled Go Access Guide’ link at the top of the webpage for the relevant library, or call or email the staff to enquire.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Explore York Libraries and Archives Mutual Limited is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Some images do not have a text alternative, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. Similarly, a smaller number of videos are also missing a text alternative. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content).
We plan to add text alternatives for all images by end of April 2021. When we publish new content we’ll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards.

Some levels of heading are missing such that the structure is hard for screen-readers to interpret. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criteria 2.4.6 (headings and labels)
We plan to label all headings consistently by end April 2021. When we publish new content we’ll make sure our headings meet accessibility standards.

Some of our PDFs are not displaying titles. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.2 (page titled)
We have replaced most with accessible versions, and plan to complete this work by end April 2021.

Disproportionate burden

Our interactive form for booking appointments is difficult to use with screen-readers. Problems occur due to form controls missing ‘label’ tags and due to the lack of headers in the calendar.

The appointment booking forms are built using free third party software. Since the form’s purpose is temporary during the Coronavirus crisis, we believe that purchasing a more accessible tool would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations. Should the necessity for appointment booking forms persist we will make another assessment, likely to be in March 2021.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

Third Party embedded content
Where we have embedded content from third parties such as Prezi, OneDrive and Google Maps, the accessibility features may be beyond our control.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 22 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 30 December 2020.

This website was last tested on 27 January 2023. The test was carried out by ourselves using a full report from an automated accessibility checking tool.