GBL.WAW.PL - Statements of Accessibility
Based on VPAT® Version 2.5Rev.
Product name/version: gbl.waw.pl website
Date of report: April 2026.
Service description: The gbl.waw.pl website is the official website of the Stanisław Konopka Main Medical Library (GBL) in Warsaw. It is one of the most important institutions in Poland for collecting, compiling and providing access to literature in medicine and related sciences. The site provides access to prestigious foreign and domestic full-text databases (e.g. Elsevier, Springer, IBUK Libra) used by medical students and doctors.
Contact information:
If you have problems accessing the website, please contact us to arrange alternative access by calling 22-849-78-51 or sending an e-mail to sekretariat@gbl.waw.pl.
Date of service creation: March 2026
Date of last update related to accessibility improvements: March 2026
Digital compliance status
The website is partially compliant with the Digital Accessibility of Public Entities' Websites and Mobile Applications Act due to the incompatibilities or exemptions listed below:
- Multimedia and images: Some additional graphic material and information images may not yet have adequate alternative descriptions (alt). Successive completion of this content is planned over the coming months.
- Icon elements: Some icon elements may not yet be fully hidden for screen readers.
- no single-letter keyboard shortcuts
- no alternative descriptions and titles for photos and images for content added before 23.09.2020.
- some PDF documents have errors in the text layer (after scanning/OCR),
- PDF documents are not properly readable by software for the visually impaired (e.g. incorrectly prepared tables, charts, images, missing navigation sections, title, etc.),
- no audio descriptors for multimedia material.
Exclusions:
- films were published before the Digital Accessibility Act came into force - improving the accessibility of the website would carry an undue burden on the public body,
Notes:
Assessment methods: Expert audit based on WCAG 2.1 AA, manual and automated tests, tests with NVDA, VoiceOver, HTML/CSS/ARIA code analysis.
Applicable standards/guidelines:
| Standard/guideline | Included in the report |
| Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level A | Yes |
| Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA | Yes |
| EN 301 549 | Yes |
Aspects that make the service difficult to operate:
- Semantics and structures: the lack of consistent HTML headings and region roles makes it difficult to understand the hierarchy and browse by headings on the home page in particular
- Visibility of focus and tab order: focus indicator is sometimes poorly visible, TAB order goes through hidden/repeated elements.
- Images and multimedia: informational images without adequate alt; icon elements not hidden for readers.
- Dynamic content: states (open/closed, active tab) are not transmitted to assistive technologies...;
Architectural accessibility
The building of the Central Medical Library located at 22 Chocimska Street in Warsaw has been adapted for use by people with disabilities by:
- access to passenger lift (lift)
- alternative side entrance to the building
- admission with assistance dog
- assistance of a Library employee
In the event of availability issues, please contact us to arrange alternative options at 22-849-78-51
Accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
To communicate effectively with our institution people who are deaf or hard of hearing can:
- write a letter/application to the following address: Central Medical Library, 22 Chocimska Street, 00-791 Warsaw
- send e-mail to: sekretariat@gbl.waw.pl
- contact a third party by telephone at: 22-849-78-51
- contact in person by turning up at the Library during office hours: Monday-Friday: 8.30am - 6pm and 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month: 9:00 - 17:00
Feedback and contact details
IT and Administration Department
The person in charge is Wojciech Michalski,e-mail address admin@gbl.waw.pl. The same route can be used to make requests for non-accessible information and to lodge complaints about non-availability.
Everyone has the right to request the provision of accessibility to a digital website, mobile application or some element thereof. It is also possible to request that information be made available in alternative forms, for example, reading a digitally inaccessible document, describing the content of a film without an audio description, etc. The request should include the identity of the person making the request, an indication of which website or mobile application is being requested and how to contact it. If the person making the request wishes to receive the information in an alternative form, he or she should also specify the form in which the information is to be provided.
The public body shall comply with the request immediately and no later than within 7 days. If it is not possible to meet this deadline, the public body shall promptly inform the public body when it will be possible to comply with the request, but the deadline shall not be longer than 2 months. If accessibility is not possible, the public body may propose an alternative means of accessing the information.
Please state in the body of your application:
- your name,
- contact details (e.g. e-mail address or telephone number),
- the exact address and description of the affected page,
- a description of the inaccessible item and a suggested, convenient way for you to make it available.
We will respond to your application as soon as possible - no later than 7 working days.
If we are unable to ensure availability or prepare an alternative solution within this timeframe, we will inform you of a new deadline - no longer than 2 months.
In the event that we are unable to comply with your request, we will offer an alternative means of accessing the content.
Handling requests and complaints
If:
- we will refuse to provide digital accessibility in response to your request,
- the alternative access method we propose will not be satisfactory to you,
you have the right to complain.
You also have the right to contact Ombudsman, who can intervene in your case.