Breaking Barriers: Measuring Perceivability of Select North Indian University Library Websites

Purpose:This paper examines the accessibility of select North Indian university library websites by applying the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a globally recognized standard for accessible web design. The study specifically evaluates adherence to the Perceivable principle within WCAG 2.1, which ensures that information and interface components are interpretable by users of all abilities, particularly focusing on vision-impaired individuals who rely on assistive technologies. Design/Methodology/Approach:Using the Siteimprove Accessibility Checker, this study conducted a systematic evaluation of North Indian university library homepages. Siteimprove is a robust tool for assessing WCAG compliance, allowing an automated review of various success criteria within the Perceivable principle. Data from 20 select universities was gathered and categorized to identify recurring issues, providing a detailed view of accessibility barriers across different areas, including non-text content, information relationships, color contrast, and text adaptability. Findings:The findings indicate significant accessibility issues across several North Indian university library websites. Notably, National Law University, Delhi, had the most issues with Text Alternatives (81), while the University of Delhi exhibited high levels of Adaptable Content issues (282). Central Sanskrit University showed the most challenges with color usage (23 issues), and Indira Gandhi and Jammu Universities had significant problems with minimum contrast (79 and 76, respectively). Additionally, Himachal Pradesh National Law University led in Contrast Enhanced issues (92), and National Law University displayed the highest number of issues related to Images of Text (94). Although some websites were well-structured, these findings underscore a prevalent gap in accessibility that limits inclusive access for users with disabilities. Originality/Value:This study fills a critical gap by focusing on accessibility challenges specific to North Indian university library websites, providing insights valuable for academic institutions striving for inclusivity. It highlights priority areas where targeted improvements could substantially enhance web accessibility for vision-impaired users. The methodology, based on WCAG 2.1 and Siteimprove, supports reusability and reproducibility, offering a framework for ongoing accessibility audits that can be extended to other regions and educational contexts.