This accessibility statement applies to Solent University Library Catalogue (https://catalogue.solent.ac.uk). It does not apply to the many electronic resources that are discoverable and accessible from the Catalogue.
This website is run by Solent University. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. That means you should be able to:
- change colours and contrast levels using browser or device settings
- zoom in up to 200% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using a keyboard
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of Narrator, NVDA, and VoiceOver)
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
We know that some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- At magnifications higher than 200%, some content may spill off the screen or overlap.
- Sometimes the language of the text will not be identified. This applies to search results that contain elements (e.g., title, abstract, etc.) that are not in English.
- On the detailed item view page the Chat button is not accessible via a keyboard.
- Sometimes the keyboard focus is not clearly visible.
Feedback and contact information
If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we're not meeting accessibility requirements, contact: library.loans@solent.ac.uk. Alternatively, you may go direct to James Clark, Library Systems and Discovery Manager, email: james.clark@solent.ac.uk, telephone via the Solent Library main desk: 023 8201 3681.
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, audio recording etc.:
We'll consider your request and get back to you within 5 working days.
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).
Technical information about this website's accessibility
Solent University 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 has been tested against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard.
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 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
- In the brief results page, the Newspaper Search spotlight, although it does not have the list-item role is a child of the search results list which has a list role. This could cause assistive technology to mistakenly consider this part of the search results, although this was not evident in testing. This fails WCAG 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (A). We have reported this problem to ExLibris (the system vendor). We do not currently have a date by which this will be fixed.
- The custom tooltips that appear when hover or focus is on a button can sometimes obscure other content (especially at magnification) and are not dismissible without moving hover or focus. In addition, the hover cannot be moved over the tooltip content. This behaviour could make it difficult for some users to perceive the page. This fails WCAG 1.4.13 Content on Hover or Focus (AA). We have reported this problem to ExLibris (the system vendor). They have responded that the problem will be removed in a new version of the product, which we expect to adopt in summer 2026.
- In the detailed results page for an item (e.g., a book, an article, etc.) it is not possible to access the Chat widget via the keyboard. This means it is impossible for keyboard only users to access Chat from within these pages. This fails WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard (A). We are considering best how to address these problems and will update this page by 27 February 2026.
- Sometimes it is not clear where the keyboard focus is, as in the following examples:
- in the detailed results page for an item the focus after "Cited in this" or "On shelf" is not visible;
- in the brief results page, the focus after "Advanced search" is not visible;
- in the ILL request form, the focus on the Book/Article radio button is not visible;
- at 250% zoom, the focus on the ellipsis for the main menu is not visible;
- in facets, the focus on the facet name as a clickable link is not visible;
- within the detailed results page some parts of the items list have invisible focus.
This can make it difficult for users to navigate. This fails WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible (AA). We are considering best how to address these problems and will update this page by 27 February 2026.
- In the brief results page, the button labelled 'Save query' has an aria-label 'Keep this search'; in the ILL form the checkbox labelled 'I need a specific chapter only' has the aria-label 'I only need a specific chapter or pages'; in the ILL form. These differences could make it difficult for users to use voice activated tools. This fails WCAG 2.5.3 Label in Name (A). We are considering best how to address these problems and will update this page by 27 February 2026.
- Records for resources that are returned as a result of searches or browses may include metadata elements (e.g., title, abstract) in language other than English, and these languages will often not be programmatically identified. This can cause screen readers to mispronounce text. This fails WCAG 3.1.2 Language of Parts (AA). ExLibris (the system vendor) is aware of the problem. We do not currently have a date by which this will be fixed.
- Sometimes interactive tools are nested (e.g., in the detailed view of an item, the buttons under the "Send to" heading; the "Personalize" button on the brief results page). This can sometimes mean that they are not announced by screen readers or cause focus problems for assistive technologies, although this was not a problem in our testing. This fails WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (A). We have reported this problem to ExLibris (the system vendor). They have responded that the problem will be removed in a new version of the product, which we expect to adopt in summer 2026.
Disproportionate burden
At this time, we are not making any disproportionate burden claims.
Content that's not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
Please note that the electronic resources that this website makes discoverable and links to are not part of this website and so outside the scope of this statement. Accessibility of electronic resources is a factor when purchasing decisions are made, and in addition, the Library runs an Alternative Formats service, which you can register for via Access Solent.
What we're doing to improve accessibility
The items identified in the Non-accessible content section of this website contain a date by which we expect the issue to be fixed if it is entirely within our control. We will continue to engage with our supplies to try to resolve the issues that involve them promptly.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 20 September 2020. It was last reviewed and revised on 24 October 2025.
This last test of this website was completed on 24 October 2025.
The test was carried out internally. An audit of the site was carried out to the WCAG 2.2 AA standard. In this audit a sample of different types of pages were tested (the home page, a search results page, two detailed results pages, the ILL request form, the Relax and Read Collections Gallery, and the My Account page).
