This statement on accessibility applies to the website https://katalog.dnb.de.

Accessibility on this website

The German National Library attaches great importance to making its library catalogue https://katalog.dnb.de barrier-free. The regulations governing barrier-free access are set out in the currently valid versions of the Act on Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities (Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz, BGG) and the Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance (Barrierefreie Informationstechnik-Verordnung, BITV 2.0).
The catalogue is currently undergoing further development. Functions designed to make the service easier to use are continually being added and upgraded.
The German National Library pays particular attention to the following accessibility functions on its bilingual catalogue:

• Content is structured accessibly. Headings and lists are posted using structural elements of HTML. Page content is arranged in a meaningful order, regardless of how it is presented. Layout tables are not used.
• Images, graphics and other non-text elements with significant content are provided with alternative texts.
• Colours are not used as the sole informative element for understanding the individual web page.
• All contrast specifications are adhered to.
• The website can be navigated using the keyboard.
• The keyboard control focus is clearly visible at all times.
• Quick links in the page header allow you to jump directly to relevant parts of the page.
• All important content can be read aloud by a screen reader.

The content management system used by the German National Library, the Government Site Builder, provides significant support with regard to accessibility.

Useful keyboard shortcuts

• The tab order usually moves from the top left to the bottom right.
• The key combination Alt + Shift + 0 takes you to the quick links in the page header.
• Once you have navigated to the first result in the hit list, you can use the → (right arrow) and ← (left arrow) or the Home and End keys to switch from the media section to the Knowledge Web and vice versa.
• Overlays (e.g. of enlarged images) are easily closed by pressing the Escape key.
• When using filters with multiple selection functions, you can select individual categories using the space bar.

Non-accessible contents

Data relating to media and the Knowledge Web, also known as metadata, cannot be made completely barrier-free because of its sheer volume (more than 40 million records). Not all abbreviations are decoded and the language of the entries is not always specified. This means that some words may be pronounced incorrectly when using a screen reader.
The time filter in the media section is only partly navigable using the keyboard. The data visualisation process is bypassed in order to facilitate use of the selection fields when entering data.
Not all functions can be used in full when the page is enlarged to 200%. Hierarchical relations between data records, for example, cannot be visualised on this scale.
When using your keyboard to navigate the page, it is advisable to load the hit list in paginated form. Work is still under way to ensure that the hit list can be smoothly navigated by keyboard when infinite scrolling (the automatic loading of subsequent search results) is activated.

We are constantly at pains to optimise the accessibility of our catalogue and to adjust it to new framework requirements. Should you notice any barriers, we will be grateful if you notify us of this by sending a message to barrierefreiheit@dnb.de.

This statement was issued on 20 September 2022.

Feedback and Contact

Have you noticed problems with barrier-free access to content on https://katalog.dnb.de? Or do you have questions about accessibility? If so, you are welcome to contact us at:
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Digitale Dienste / Barrierefreiheit
Adickesallee 1
60322 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: +49 69 1525-1650
barrierefreiheit@dnb.de

Arbitration proceedings

The Federal Government Commissioner for Matters relating to Persons with Disabilities operates an Arbitration Service as described in section 16 BGG. The task of the Arbitration Service is to settle disputes between persons with disabilities and public authorities. You can turn to the Arbitration Service if you are not satisfied with the answers given by the contact provided above. Arbitration is not about finding winners or losers. Instead, the aim is to find a mutually acceptable solution out of court with the help of the Arbitration Service. Arbitration procedures are free of charge. Neither do you require legal counsel.
The Arbitration Service website contains everything you need to know about arbitration procedures. Here you can find out what happens during an arbitration procedure and how you can apply for arbitration. You can also submit an application in simple language or German sign language. You can reach the Arbitration Service at the following address:
Schlichtungsstelle nach dem Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz
bei dem Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für die Belange von Menschen mit Behinderungen
Mauerstraße 53
10117 Berlin
Germany
Phone: +49 30 18 527-2805
Fax: +49 30 18 527-2901
info@schlichtungsstelle-bgg.de