The British Library is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
This accessibility statement applies to our E-Theses Online Service (EThOS) at https://ethos.bl.uk/.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the exemption listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons:
Content not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
- Non-English phrases within catalogue search results (e.g. arising from metadata relating to non-English works) are not marked with appropriate ‘lang’ attributes, meaning that assistive technologies can not programmatically detect the language and switch pronunciation rules, and users of such technologies may not be able to understand the content. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 3.1.2 (Language of Parts). The catalogue metadata content cannot be re-extracted from the original thesis manuscripts by automated and cost-efficient means in order to transform it into content compatible with the accessibility requirement. It is therefore exempt from the Regulations under Reg 3(2)(f)(ii).
How we tested this website
This website was last tested on 14 October 2026, with spot checks being carried out by the British Library using, Wave, Google Lighthouse, and AccessibilityChecker.org.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This accessibility statement was prepared on 17 February 2026. It was last updated on 14 October 2026.
Feedback and Contact Information
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on the page for a specific Site or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, or if you need information on this website in a different accessible format, please contact the Head of Corporate Information Management:
- Email: FOI-Enquiries@bl.uk
- Write to: Corporate Information Unit, British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB
We’ll consider your request and get back to you within 20 working days.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).