Your Library Website Is Failing Your Patrons
We audited public library websites across the country. Section 508 violations, broken accessibility, missing structured data — the problems are consistent and fixable.
What we found auditing public library websites:
Libraries share the same compliance gaps, repeatedly. These failures put grant funding and ADA compliance at risk.
Missing HTML lang attribute
Section 508 violation — fails screen readers and assistive technology
No structured data
Invisible to search engines, suppressed rankings for events and resources
No skip navigation
WCAG 2.1 Level A — ADA complaint trigger for keyboard-only users
Failing color contrast
WCAG 2.1 AA failure — common trigger for accessibility complaints
Missing alt text
Section 508 and WCAG 1.1.1 — excludes patrons using screen readers
No Open Graph tags
Broken link previews when shared on social media or in email newsletters
These aren’t just usability issues.
They’re compliance failures that affect your Section 508 standing, ADA Title II obligations, and eligibility under EO 13166 (language access). LSTA, LORI, and MOTT grant reviewers increasingly require documented accessibility compliance. A single audit report can protect your funding.
One fixed price. Everything included.
No tiers, no upsells, no surprises. One engagement covers everything a library needs to meet compliance and build a digital foundation.
Library Compliance Package
Fixed price. Typical timeline: 2–4 weeks.
- Full technical audit (Lighthouse, axe-core, WAVE)
- WCAG 2.1 AA remediation: lang attr, skip nav, alt text, headings, contrast, focus, ARIA
- SEO foundation: meta tags, JSON-LD structured data, Open Graph tags, sitemap, Search Console
- Google Analytics 4 setup + custom dashboard + automated monthly reports
- Before/after compliance report (board-ready, grant-ready)
Add-Ons
- Multilingual support$1,500–$2,000 per language
- Content refresh$150/hr, 5-hour minimum
No commitment. We send the report regardless.
How It Works
Four steps. No surprises. You’re in control at every stage.
Free Audit Report
We analyze your library site against 20+ criteria: accessibility, structured data, SEO, and grant compliance indicators. You get the full report — no obligation.
2–3 business day turnaround.
Scope Confirmation
We walk through the findings together and confirm the fixed-price scope. You approve before any work begins. No surprises.
You stay in control.
We Fix It
We work directly in your CMS — WordPress, Drupal, LibGuides, or similar. You own everything we produce. No proprietary platform, no lock-in.
2–4 weeks typical.
Compliance Report
We re-run the full audit and deliver a documented improvement report — board-ready and formatted to satisfy LSTA, LORI, and MOTT grant reviewers.
Defensible, documented proof.
One library fix opens the door to 48.
When one branch or system gets the report, the rest of the consortium benefits from the same methodology. We’ve built for repeatability.
Grant-Ready Reports
Our before/after compliance reports are formatted to satisfy LSTA, LORI, and MOTT grant reviewers. Turn your audit into documented institutional accountability.
No Lock-In
We work within your existing CMS and ILS environment. You own everything we build. No new platform, no ongoing retainer required.
Director-Level Approval
All work is scoped and approved at the director level before it starts. Nothing surprises your board or your IT staff.
Compliance Documentation
Every engagement produces a paper trail: audit findings, remediation log, and post-fix verification. Exactly what you need for ADA defense and grant reporting.
Compliance standards we address:
- Section 508 (Rehabilitation Act)
- ADA Title II
- Executive Order 13166 (language access)
- LSTA / LORI / MOTT grant accessibility criteria
Common questions about library website compliance
How much does a public library website audit cost?
Cyber Shark Solutions offers a free initial audit with no obligation. The full compliance remediation package for public library websites is a fixed $5,000. This includes a complete technical audit using Lighthouse, axe-core, and WAVE, WCAG 2.1 AA remediation, SEO foundation (meta tags, structured data, Open Graph), Google Analytics 4 setup with a custom dashboard, and a before/after compliance report formatted for LSTA and LORI grant applications.
What federal accessibility requirements apply to public library websites?
Public libraries receiving federal funding are subject to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and ADA Title II. Libraries that receive LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) funding through IMLS are also subject to Executive Order 13166, which requires meaningful access for people with limited English proficiency. In practice, this means your website must meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards, include a declared HTML language attribute, and have a clear path to content in supported languages.
Does website accessibility affect LSTA or LORI grant eligibility?
Grant funders including LORI (Library of Rhode Island), LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act), and MOTT Foundation are increasingly evaluating digital presence as part of funding decisions. An inaccessible website signals poor capacity management to reviewers. Our compliance report is formatted specifically to document remediation efforts in language grant reviewers expect. Several library directors have used these reports directly in successful grant applications.
What is the most common accessibility failure on library websites?
Based on our audits of public library websites, 100% fail two basic requirements: the HTML lang attribute (which tells screen readers what language the page is in) and structured data markup (which helps search engines understand your content). Both are invisible to casual visitors but matter enormously for accessibility tools and search engine indexing. Both are fixed as part of our standard $5,000 package.
Rob Spence
Digital Compliance Consultant
Rob Spence is a digital compliance consultant based in Pawtucket, RI, specializing in website accessibility remediation for government and nonprofit organizations. His audit methodology is based on direct analysis of 75+ U.S. city websites and dozens of public library and tourism board sites.
Pawtucket, RI