Abstract
Recent updates to the ADA Title II regulations require that websites and online services operated by public entities comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. While WCAG provides clear guidance for many types of digital content, it does not explicitly address complex formats like music notation. This gap presents challenges for music libraries, which increasingly provide digital access to scores and course materials—and must now determine how to align these services with evolving accessibility standards before the April 2026 compliance deadline.
This session will examine what accessibility and compliance could mean in the context of music notation, explore current strategies and tools for making scores more accessible, and discuss how music librarians can collaborate with accessibility offices, IT, and legal counsel. Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions and engage in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment designed to foster shared learning, problem-solving, and community building.
Topics to be addressed include:
● Definitions—formal or provisional—of “accessible” in this context (e.g., WCAG 2.1) and interpretations of “password-protected or otherwise secured”
● Who is doing the work (e.g., library staff, student workers, accessibility offices); what tools and software are being used; what training or expertise is required; and what the real cost is for institutions and frontline workers
● How institutions are interpreting and applying ADA Title II requirements to digital music scores, including what may fall under exceptions
5
● Collaborative strategies involving libraries, disability services, IT departments, and legal counsel
● Legal and ethical considerations in the digital distribution of copyrighted scores
● The potential impact on instructional practices and student access to course materials
● Strategies for archiving legacy course materials in accessible formats to comply with the April 2026 ADA Title II deadline
● Balancing the legal imperative of compliance with the moral imperative of providing equitable access to all library users
This session will combine presentation and open discussion to foster shared learning. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of ADA Title II requirements, explore practical strategies for addressing accessibility in digital music collections, and leave with actionable ideas for collaboration and compliance at their own institutions.