Survey on Accessibility in National Bibliographies: Report of Results

Abstract

This report presents the findings of a survey conducted by the IFLA Bibliography Section on the accessibility practices of National Bibliographic Agencies (NBAs). The survey, conducted from May to July 2025, gathered responses from 32 agencies across Europe, Asia, North America, and South America, revealing a landscape of varied practices, challenges, and opportunities in accessibility metadata management. Key findings indicate that while many agencies recognize the importance of accessibility, formal policies and standardized practices for recording accessibility metadata are still at very early stages. Only 19% of respondents reported having established formal accessibility metadata policies, with a significant portion lacking awareness and training. The survey highlighted the prevalence of accessible formats in national bibliographies, yet only 53% of agencies documented the specific accessibility features of these resources, indicating a gap in metadata coverage.