There are several reasons why how you include links in your guides is important:

1. Contextual links let users know where the links will take them.
2. Broken links are frustrating.
3. Some hyperlinks can create keyboard navigation "traps," which are problematic for those using keyboards to navigate the guide.
4. Some links descriptions are frustrating to view.

While making other accessibility updates to your guides, verify that all links work and go to the pages you expect them to. For assistance, use LibGuides' built-in link checker. If links are broken or incorrect, edit or remove them.

Hyperlinks

Check hyperlinks to make sure they include brief, descriptive text. Avoid pasting full URLs as your hyperlinks. Avoid using "click here," "read this," etc. as your hyperlink. Modify your hyperlinks as needed.

• Bad example: Find more information on hyperlinks here. 
• Bad example: Find more information: https://guides.nyu.edu/nyu-libguide-accessibility/contextual-links
• Good example: Find more information on hyperlinks at NYU LibGuide Accessibility's "Contextual Links" page. 

Reusable Link Assets

The best practice is to use the "Link" option instead of making hyperlinks. This creates a reusable asset. Whenever possible, try to use this option instead of hyperlinks and transition hyperlinks to reusable link assets. 

To do this, select the "Add/Reoder" option at the bottom of the box and select "Link." Make the link name descriptive. 

If you include descriptions of reusable link assets, have them show beneath the link. Both the "Hover item title" and "Clickable 'info' icon" have accessibility issues. While the clickable "i" icon works well with a screen reader, it is ignored when using keyboard navigation. It is also frustrating when viewing the guide on a mobile device.

How to edit link description display

Choose the option to "Edit" your link. In the "Description Display" drop-down menu, select "Beneath item title." Select "Save."

Including your email address as a hyperlink creates a keyboard navigation trap. According to California State University Northridge's "Web Accessibility Criteria - Keyboard Traps," 

"Keyboard traps occurs when a keyboard user cannot move focus away from an interactive element."

Bad example: "Contact the Science, Mathematics and Engineering liaison librarian: Amy.Scheelke@slcc.edu."

To resolve, simply remove the hyperlink and show your email as unlinked text.

Example: "Contact the Science, Mathematics and Engineering liaison librarian: Amy.Scheelke@slcc.edu."

"Email Me" Button in Profile Box

The "Email Me" button which appears in a profile box is a keyboard navigation trap. To avoid this, include your email address as text without a link. To edit this for your profile box, follow these steps:

1. Open the editing view of your profile box.
2. In the "Contact Info" section, leave "Email Address" empty.
3. In the "Widgets" section, choose a widget space that you are not using (e.g., "LibAnswers Widget Code"). Put in the text that you like to appear.
   1. Example: Email me: Amy.Scheelke@slcc.edu.