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Hello,

This email invitation to participate in a survey is being sent out to those
responsible for managing and providing XR technologies in academic
libraries. This survey is part of a study titled “Institutional Factors
Shaping XR Technology Accessibility Policy & Practice in Academic
Libraries.” The principal investigator (PI) is Dr. Zack Lischer-Katz, PhD
(Assistant Professor, School of Information, University of Arizona) and the
co-principal investigator (Co-PI) is Jasmine Clark (Digital Scholarship
Librarian, Temple University).

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) responsible for human subjects research
at The University of Arizona reviewed this research project and found it to
be acceptable, according to applicable state and federal regulations and
University policies designed to protect the rights and welfare of
participants in research

Please feel free to share this survey widely with colleagues.

*Introduction*

Over the past five years, many academic libraries have begun systematically
integrating innovative technologies, including virtual reality (VR) and
other “XR” technologies, into their spaces and services. Even though
schools, libraries, and the library profession all stress equitable access
to information and technology for all community members, accessibility -
understood in terms of the design of spaces, services, and technologies to
support users with disabilities - is rarely given sufficient consideration
when it comes to the design, implementation, and administration of XR
technology programs. Because XR technologies engage the body and multiple
senses they show great potential for providing enhanced means for disabled
users to access information resources; however, without accessibility
policies in place, the embodied aspects of XR technologies can create new
barriers (e.g., chairs and other furniture that cannot be adapted,
controllers that cannot be adjusted for different degrees of dexterity,
etc.)

*Purpose of the study *

The purpose of this study is to develop new understanding about the current
landscape of accessibility policies and practices for XR technology
programs and to understand the barriers to adoption of XR accessibility
policies and practices.

The main research objective is to understand what policies and practices
are currently in place in academic libraries and their level of
development, the existing beliefs and knowledge of library staff and
administrators involved with XR technology programs and spaces, and the
institutional factors that shape the adoption of accessibility policies for
XR technology programs.

The survey will be open from February 1, 2021 to April 30, 2021. More
information regarding confidentiality and consent can be found at the
beginning of the survey.

Please access the survey here:

https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1Ya9id4uCXoktLv



Thank you in advance for your interest and participation,

Sincerely,
*Zack Lischer-Katz*, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Information,
University of Arizona; email: [log in to unmask]
*Jasmine Clark*, Digital Scholarship Librarian, Temple University; email:
[log in to unmask]

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