Content Information
A recent federal rule will require state and local government websites (including public library websites) to comply with accessibility standards to ensure web content is accessible to people with disabilities.
What are the Requirements?
The federal regulations require the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA as the technical standard for digital accessibility.
This standard is intended to make digital content usable by as many people as possible. It requires that all websites include accessibility features such as appropriate use of colors, descriptive link text, logical document structure, alternative text for images, and others. There are two important deadlines libraries should be aware of:
- Libraries serving populations of 50,000 or more must be compliant by April 24, 2026.
- Libraries serving populations of 49,999 or fewer must be compliant by April 26, 2027.
Read a fact sheet that includes a summary of the rule and more information:
About this Toolkit
This toolkit is intended to serve as a guide for Iowa library staff to help understand website accessibility best practices and what updates should be made to ensure compliance.
Sections in this toolkit include an overview of five key concepts for accessibility with tips, additional resources, and specific instructions for libraries that use PLOW websites provided by the State Library. Additional sections in the toolkit offer training opportunities and outline a three-step action plan for library websites to become compliant.