|
Cheery Friday Greetings,
Implementation of the New ADA Title II Requirements Delayed. On Monday, April 20, the United States Department of Justice published an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register extending the Title II web accessibility compliance deadlines. Under the revised schedule, state and local government entities serving populations of 50,000 or more will now have until April 26, 2027, rather than April 24, 2026. Public entities serving populations under 50,000, as well as special district governments, will have until April 26, 2028, rather than April 26, 2027.
While this provides additional time for smaller organizations, school districts, and other covered entities that were not yet able to meet the deadlines, it is also a disappointing delay for people with disabilities who benefit from accessible digital services right now. Libraries and other public entities should continue making accessibility improvements—including WCAG-related updates and other enhancements--as promptly as possible for the benefit of all community members.
As we all know, time flies--2027 and 2028 will be here before we know it. Congratulations to the libraries and districts that have already completed much of this important work.
Please review the ruling, and note that public comments will be accepted through June 22, 2026. Contact information for submitting comments is included on that published notice.
This online program, offered through the NY State Library, focuses on coordinated intimidation and harassment which is a growing occupational hazard for researchers and librarians.
It is presented by two Cornell University Library librarians and will be recorded:
- Eliza Bettinger, Director of Digital Scholarship Services
- Reanna Esmail, Lead Librarian for Instruction,
Advocacy. The budget has yet to pass, so if you’ve not had a chance to contact your legislators and leadership, there is still time to reach out to them. See the last edition of the News for complete information.
Advisory Committees. We currently have eight advisory committees:
Communication & Awareness (formerly Awareness & Advocacy—renamed per the 2026-2031 Plan of Service changes)
Coordinated Collection Development Aid for Academics (New!)
Digitization
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, & Accessibility (DEIJA)
Educational Services
Hospital Library (HLSP)
Information Technology and Services (ACITS)
Resource Sharing
Serving on an advisory committee can be both rewarding and impactful. It is a great way to network while offering recommendations regarding regional and statewide programs, services, and policies. All committees would welcome additional members. If you are interested, please contact the SCRLC liaison listed on each committee page--or feel free to reach out to me directly.
Bibliographic & Referral Center (BARC) Update. BARC, our in-house interlibrary service of last resort, is up and running! Staff have processed over 50 requests. More information about BARC is available here. Many kudos to Sarah Shank of Ithaca College whose mentorship has been invaluable through this process!
Yours in partnership,
Mary-Carol
Mary-Carol Lindbloom
Executive Director
| 
