All posts by Rachel Ford

Why Think about Web Accessibility?

No matter where you work or what your title may be, as a legal information professional, you likely spend a lot of time communicating online. Much of the legal information we provide is digital, most of our users engage with our materials online, and many of our interactions are mediated through the internet. Some law libraries are now entirely virtual, and even those with physical spaces may provide more electronic resources than physical ones.

Web Accessibility is Necessary

Clearly, law libraries and legal information are transforming, and this transformation has led to both conundrums and improvements. But even if “everything is online now” (a popular oversimplification), not everything online is truly accessible to everyone. Even beyond paywalls and similar limitations, people with disabilities regularly encounter barriers that complicate or even completely block their access to information.

This is not a new problem, and in many cases, the current situation is an improvement. In the past, people who couldn’t pore over unwieldy print volumes were unable to access or engage with legal information directly. Thanks to ever improving assistive technologies — and the efforts of advocates, including librarians — more people have wider access to all sorts of information than ever before, and that’s worth celebrating.

But there are still unnecessary hurdles, even in libraries. For digitized materials, these are often relics of the original formats: scanning print materials often means little more than taking a picture of them, so scanned image-only or poorly OCRed PDFs are nearly as inaccessible as the original print books. “Born-digital” materials may be inherently more accessible, but technical problems can result in information that makes no sense to a screen reader or is not navigable on a smaller screen.

However, because more people are aware of these accessibility challenges and developing solutions, it’s easier than ever to make your online communication more accessible to everyone. Often, this will require a little extra time and advance through, but it’s worth it. No matter your audience, a significant minority of those you’re communicating with are relying on assistive technologies and need accessible content.

Web Accessibility is Required

There are, of course, legal requirements for web accessibility. Section 508 requires federal websites to be accessible. ADA Title II (for state and local governments) and Title III (for businesses open to the public) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, including for services provided online.  Failures to meet these requirements have led to complaints and legal problems, including recently for Illinois public libraries.

Earlier this year, the DOJ issued a new ADA Title II rule clarifying that the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1, Level AA will the technical standard for governments’ web accessibility. This new rule only applies to state and local governments, but this includes many law libraries. And even those who not required to comply to this technical standard may find it worthwhile to do so voluntarily.

Thinking about web accessibility standards protects our organizations and lets us know we’ve done “enough” for now (which can be vital for overthinkers and perfectionists). Personally, I love a good checklist, and WCAG 2.1 checklists abound: here are a few from WebAIM, Yale, and Cornell, just to get started.

WCAG 2.1 AA is the minimum standard: it’s not the latest version and features fewer requirements than Level AAA or version 2.2. Meeting this standard, or any other, doesn’t take into account all the possible barriers to communication and information beyond legal obligations. Inclusive design reminds us to think beyond checking boxes to reconsider how we design and communicate. If we keep the diversity of human needs and experiences in mind while creating and distributing information, we can reach a wider audience and minimize frustration for everyone.

Web Accessibility is for Everyone

In physical spaces, designing for accessibility has often benefited people without disabilities as well, which is a common argument for universal design. You may have heard of the curb cut effect: although curb cuts were invented for wheelchairs, they’re an improvement for everyone who uses a sidewalk. Similarly, although expanding access is the focus of web accessibility, people who don’t rely on assistive technologies can take advantage of many features. Perhaps you’ve appreciated:

  • A well-designed website that resizes all its text and images to fit your phone’s screen
  • Videos with edited captions, so you can follow all the dialogue without confusion
  • Transcripts for audio recordings or videos that you can skim for speedier comprehension
  • Movies with visual description, so you can “watch” with your ears while otherwise occupied
  • Lists and short paragraphs that are quicker to read than blocks of text

All of these are design choices that improve web accessibility; they’re nice features for many people but absolute necessities for others. Naturally, not every accessibility feature is perceivable or useful for everyone, and even “invisible” improvements are worthwhile. But if you think about accessibility from the start, the results are often better for everyone.

Web Accessibility in the Future

In the coming issues of the Bulletin, I’ll be exploring how law librarians and other legal information professionals can improve web accessibility when communicating and distributing information online. Starting in the next issue, I’ll share more practical tips and ideas, both for meeting standards and for thinking inclusively about sharing web-based information.

This is a topic I’m working in and learning more about, but I’m not an expert. I know many other members of the CALL community have insights on web accessibility from their work or personal experience that they could share. So please feel free to email me (rford2@niu.edu) to share any tips or ideas in a future post or just to talk more about web accessibility in law libraries.

Continuing Education Committee Annual Report 2023-2024

The Continuing Education Committee had another successful year, sponsoring three presentations during the 2023-24 CALL year. The committee tried to identify topics that would interest all of our members, whether they work for private law firms, academic institutions, or courts or government agencies. Following a practice that began during the pandemic, all three presentations were webinars held over Zoom:

All of our presentations this year garnered immense interest and were well-attended by our CALL Members.

This year’s programs were all recorded and made available on the CALL website. The committee used Zoom to create webinar invites, host the programs, and record the programs.  The cloud storage in Zoom became a concern as we were at about 98% usage.  Shari brought this to the attention of the Board, and they began looking at a number of solutions for increasing capacity for future recordings.

The committee stayed within budget and did not need to pay any speaking or other fees this year.

All of this year’s programs were driven by our volunteer committee members.  Special thanks go to this year’s committee members Caitlin Archer-Helke, Joe Mitzenmacher, and Amy Tomaszewski for their work in putting together our programs. I would also like to thank our Board liaison Todd Hillmer for his input.

Membership Committee Annual Report 2023-2024

The Committee Charge

The committee’s main charge is updating and management of the online directory, which replaced the print directory. This included eliminating duplicate accounts, standardizing firm and company names, and coordinating with the CALL Listserv admins to update the member emails.

CALL members must now contact Membership Committee members directly to make changes to their account in Neon after the initial creation of their account. This helps to maintain the accuracy and standardization of data.

The Committee Activity:

  • Update membership directory with member-submitted edits.
  • Provide list of current members for CALL Board meetings and to AALL for annual election.
  • Provide invoicing, as needed, for memberships and renewals.
  • Coordinate with Listserv admin to keep email list current.
  • Send membership renewal emails in May.
  • Annual review of current members and outreach to lapsed members.

Projects and Initiatives:

The following projects were begun in 2023, but need to be continued in the new year.

  • Review the Committee charge and submit edits to the Board.
  • Update the Committee “cookbook” of processes and procedures in Neon.
  • Obtain administrative access to the Listserv so that Membership Committee Chair can make requested edits to contact information.

Chair:

Jessie LeMar

Committee:

  • Janice Collins
  • Julie Pabarja
  • Amy Tomaszewski

CALL at AALL: Sessions with CALL Member Speakers

While you’re planning your schedule at the 2024 AALL Conference, consider attending these fascinating sessions featuring CALL members! Our members will be presenting, moderating, or speaking at several sessions on a wide range of topics, from GenAI to mentoring to state court dockets and much more. Some of the sessions run at the same times, but if you plan ahead, you can join at least one session featuring a CALL member every day of the conference.

Saturday, July 20 at 9:00am (Atlanta)
Discover Foreign & International Law in The Second City (Separate Registration Required)
CALL Member(s): Jean M. Wenger, Adam Weber, Diane Wood, Mandy Lee
How do we best prepare students and assist attorneys with research involving foreign and international law and legal questions? AALL must lead in training the next generation of law librarians knowledgeable about foreign and international law research as our legal landscape requires professionals possessing these specialized research skills. Taking advantage of Chicago as a global legal marketplace, this day-long workshop will tap the expertise of lawyers, judges, academics, and law librarians, focusing on international and foreign practice. Law librarians in all institutional settings, academic, firm, public, and government, encounter questions about international and foreign law and practice and will benefit from attending this workshop.

Saturday, July 20 at 9:00am (Grand Ballroom A)
Unleashing Innovation: A Rollercoaster Ride to Implement, Plan, and Fund Your GenAI Toolkit (Separate Registration Required)
CALL Member(s): Diana J. Koppang
This is a high level and strategic workshop designed for professionals seeking to harness the transformative potential of GenAI tools. The workshop will delve into practical implementation strategies, financial planning, and integration considerations. Participants will gain insights into how GenAI can reshape work processes, enhance decision-making, and drive efficiency.

Sunday, July 21 at 2pm (Grand Ballroom A)
Cool Tools Café: Existing and Emerging Technologies
With new technologies releasing faster than ever, the annual Cool Tools Café provides a space for legal information professionals to get hands-on learning experience with a variety of emerging and existing technologies. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about tools that can improve library services from fellow legal information professionals who have used these technologies in their own libraries. Previous iterations of this program have included tools for legal research, collaboration, marketing services, instruction, productivity, citation, presentations, and website functionality.

Sunday, July 21 at 3:15pm (Grand Ballroom)
Hot Topic: AI: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly–60 AI Websites, Tools, and Apps in 60 Minutes
CALL Member(s): Bridget MacMillan (Speaker)
Artificial Intelligence has impacted every aspect of our culture—or will, shortly. Join us for a fast-paced review of AI websites, tools, and apps—from the sublime to the ridiculous. An AI-powered stuffed cat or a self-driving bicycle? Sure, why not? An app that summarizes case law in seconds and explains it to you “like you were five”? Sounds perfect. Every profession, every hobby, every aspect of our physical, emotional, and even spiritual lives is being transformed. But what makes a “good” application of AI, and what is just silly? By reviewing a wide range of applications (the good, the bad and the ugly), attendees will see just how far AI is infiltrating our collective experience and walk away with some practical applications—and a few laughs as well.

Monday, July 22 at 9:30am (Grand Ballroom A)
Bridging Differences in Mentoring Relationships
CALL Member(s): Mandy Lee (Coordinator/Speaker), Brandy Ellis (Speaker)
This program aims to equip both mentors and mentees with tools to develop more productive mentoring relationships. Modeled after the Mentoring Across Differences (MAD) workshop, created by Nora Yusuf Osman and Barbara Gottlieb (MedEdPORTAL 2018), this workshop is designed to foster confidence and self-awareness in navigating differences across a variety of domains. Interested mentors and mentees are encouraged to attend!

Monday, July 22 at 9:30am (Regency Ballroom D)
Hot Topic: SCOTUS: A Year in Review
CALL Member(s):  Tom Gaylord, Barry Sullivan
SCOTUS has tackled a host of hot-button topics over the past calendar year and is poised to deliver even more controversial rulings in the coming months. This interactive panel will highlight key developments from last term and prepare participants for what’s to come on SCOTUS’s current docket. Subjects of key cases include Chevron deference, gun regulation for individuals under domestic violence restraining orders, the Perdue Pharma opioid settlement, FDA regulations regarding mifepristone, and much more.

Monday, July 22 at 10:45am (Regency Ballroom D)
Holding On is Holding Us Back: Positioning Ourselves for the Future Law Library Workplace
CALL Member(s): Diana J. Koppang
In order to retain talent and drive new professionals to our workplaces, there must be a reevaluation of the structural and cultural norms that have endured for too long. In the first part of this program, we will reimagine the law library of the future including work-life balance expectations and organizational structure to meet the demands of our changing field. In the second part, we will discuss how to work toward this future vision in the present. While this transformation may require incremental changes, we must start now to retain and drive talent to ensure our organizations’ future success.

Monday, July 22 at 10:45am (Regency Ballroom C)
 Law Library Managerial Lessons Learned from Experience
CALL Member(s): Mandy Lee
When law librarians find themselves in managerial roles, it is often, but not always, by choice. No matter the circumstances, how do these individuals acquire the knowledge to lead teams? That knowledge may be earned through hard-won experience. This program strives to spare attendees some of the growing pains that come from trial by (leadership) fire. Three speakers, each of whom is an early-stage law library manager, will share insights from the vantage point of their institutional positions.

Monday, July 22 at 10:45am (Regency Ballroom B)
State Court Dockets: Demystifying Online Access and Coverage
CALL Member(s): Shari Berkowitz Duff, Claire Gaynor Willis
Access and coverage for state court dockets and filings have always been a guessing game depending on which state you are talking about, let alone what county, parish, or city—not to mention the case or court type. Knowing and remembering at any given point what is available, at what cost, what it is called, and who has access is no easy feat, even for seasoned librarians and researchers. How do you even begin to remember it all, especially when courts expand access (YES, PLEASE!) or seem to have less access (please, NO!) on an almost daily basis?! Are there different levels of access if you are in a law firm, an academic institution, or a member of the general public? If you reach out to your team’s “expert” on state court dockets with all of these burning questions, then it might be time for your team to create an internal guide. But how do you start, how detailed do you get, and is there even time? Let’s have a conversation to discuss these trends, methods to keep on top of all of these changes, and our collective experiences.

Tuesday, July 23 at 11:15am (Grand Ballroom A)
“No.” Is a Complete Sentence: How Librarians Can Budget their Time and Set Realistic Service Expectations
CALL Member(s): Todd Hillmer, Joe Mitzenmacher
“Doing more with less” has been a catchphrase in the law library world for a long time. But that expectation has its limit and we have long since reached it. Now we have to say “no.”

The user who wants access to a resource that is just not available to them? No. That project from some other department that has nothing to do with the library? No. That unrealistic and unnecessary deadline? No. The expectation that the latest hiring freezes will result in maintaining existing service levels? No.

In this program, hear how librarians have said “no” not only successfully but for the greater good of their organizations. Discover how departmental time budgets help determine library priorities. We will showcase tools and best practices for creating time studies and setting time budgets, and we will outline service policies for the best use of both your time and your staff’s time.

Discover the full power of “No.”

Coming Soon: CALL YouTube channel

The CALL Archives Committee has been working with the CALL Board on making our past video presentations (such as CALL Continuing Education events) available to CALL members without the use of a passcode. We are exploring the possibility of posting our videos on YouTube with a “private” listing and then posting them on a page of the CALL site that’s only accessible to current CALL members. The YouTube channel is not available yet, but keep your eyes on the CALL Bulletin and the listserv to find out when it has been set up and activated.

In the meantime, did you know that links to archived Continuing Education presentation videos are available on the current CALL site? Many of the archived recordings are passcode protected, but the recordings of presentations that were conducted by CALL members don’t require a passcode.