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Library Accessibility

Read Out Loud

General Considerations

  • Most library eBook content can be read with JAWS.
  • In general, any article or book available in PDFmay be downloaded and read aloud in Adobe Acrobat
  • Screens can be enlarged either with software (Chromebook, ZoomText) or hardware (portable or handheld CCTV)
  • eBooks created in HTML are easily accessible using the JAWS reader
  • A list of databases offering accessible eBooks follows below
  • When all else fails, ask an ADA Counselor or a librarian for assistance.

Special Cases

  • Full-text Gale eBooks feature the native "Listen" technology accessible with each chapter display
  • Infobase Publishing eBooks can be downloaded in PDF format and read more easily either with JAWS or Acrobat
  • Springer eBook chapters can be downloaded DRM-free in PDF format and read more easily either with JAWS or Acrobat
  • Proquest, ebrary, and elibro eBook chapters can be downloaded DRM-free in PDF format and read more easily either with JAWS or Acrobat
  • Some older EBSCOhost eBooks, most notably older NetLibrary eBooks, cannot be read with either JAWS or Adobe Acrobat
  • Some Library databases, such as JSTOR, including Open Access JSTOR eBook contain PDFs of page images. Since these pages were not created with optical character recognition they cannot be read aloud with either JAWS or Acrobat
  • A list of databases offering downloadable PDF content follows below