The accessibility features of electronic materials vary from site to site, and different databases have enabled different properties for improving accessibility. For example, in many databases or collections it is possible to improve the reading experience by changing the text size, font, background color, or contrast. The features of the e-book collection in use affect how the browser’s Read Aloud feature works, so it is recommended to try different browsers.
Beneath you can find a list of different Finnish and foreign e-book collections and databases, along with their accessibility-related features and functions. More detailed descriptions of accessibility can in most cases be found on their website.
If the article is in HTML format, you can use the services' own Text-to-Speech feature. Prior to listening you can select the highlight color or reading speed. If the Listen button is not showing, try to reload/refresh the page. The player might have to be reopened or reloaded. Download the player from the menu (three dots).
Some PDF articles can be listened to using the built-in reader in the PDF file.
Chapters can be printed or downloaded as PDFs, in HTML format, or sent by email as texts or as links.
With the New Book Reader you can read books in your browser. From Page Settings you can adjust the size, font, line spacing, or select a wholly different mode (Night Mode, Day Mode, Sepia Mode). NOTE! The New Book Reader may take some time to download.
Compatible with browsers' screen reader extensions.
PDF files can be read with the service's built-in reader.
Using browser extension screen readers at least partly possible.
Articles can be downloaded in PDF.
Full text PDFs look different when opened in different browsers. In Edge, the option to use a screen reader is visible, unlike in Chrome or Firefox. If you want to use a screen reader, it may be better to open the text as a separate PDF rather than in the browser.
If the article is in HTML format, you can use the services' own Text-to-Speech feature. Prior to listening you can select the highlight color or reading speed. If the Listen button is not showing, try to reload/refresh the page. The player might have to be reopened or reloaded. Download the player from the menu (three dots).
Some PDF articles can be listened to using the built-in reader in the PDF file.
You can change the text size (text resizing).
Service's Read Online mode does not support screen readers, but the service has its own separate Accessibility mode that supports screen readers.
E-books read in browser can be listened to using the browser's Read Aloud feature. For e-book readers you must activate a separate Accessibility mode (Settings > Profile), which is also used with screen readers (i.e. NVDA or VoiceOver).
Chapters can be downloaded in PDF.
Only some e-books are accessible. These include the ones without DRM protection or in PDF.
You can read e-books also in browser on mobile using EBSCO's reading tool. Select PDF Full Text or EPUB Full Text by clicking the link.
If the article is in HTML format, you can use the services' own Text-to-Speech feature. Prior to listening you can select the highlight color or reading speed. If the Listen button is not showing, try to reload/refresh the page. The player might have to be reopened or reloaded. Download the player from the menu (three dots).
Some PDF articles can be listened to using the built-in reader in the PDF file.
Most articles can be open both in HTML or PDF. You can read or download one or more chapters in PDF at a time. Most screen readers work well with the texts in HTML. The database does not have its own read aloud feature.
If the article is in HTML format, you can use the services' own Text-to-Speech feature. Prior to listening you can select the highlight color or reading speed. If the Listen button is not showing, try to reload/refresh the page. The player might have to be reopened or reloaded. Download the player from the menu (three dots).
Some PDF articles can be listened to using the built-in reader in the PDF file.
Some PDF documents may not work with screen readers and/or are difficult to navigate through with a keyboard. To solve this, first check if the PDF document is also available in HTML format. Alternatively, you can use software, like Adobe Acrobat, which has optical character recognition (OCR) capability.
The text size can be changed.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
PDF Read Aloud.
If the article is in HTML format, you can use the services' own Text-to-Speech feature. Prior to listening you can select the highlight color or reading speed. If the Listen button is not showing, try to reload/refresh the page. The player might have to be reopened or reloaded. Download the player from the menu (three dots).
Some PDF articles can be listened to using the built-in reader in the PDF file.
Master classes: Videos have subtitles; font and the background colour of the text as well as other properties can be adjusted.
Operas: Videos have subtitles in English (not adjustable).
Documentaries: No subtitles in source language. Some documentaries have one subtitling language, others have multiple.
Text-to-speech browser extensions can be used for the description of some documentaries.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
PDF files can be read with the service's built-in reader.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
PDF files can be read with the service's built-in reader.
Articles can be downloaded as PDFs.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Articles can be downloaded as PDFs.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Subtitles can be turned on for the videos.
Text-to-speech feature: right click on top of the text > Listen. Option to listen varies (e.g., no option to listen Finnish newspapers).
Accessibility: click the three dots on the top right corner of the page > Accessibility mode. All newspapers do not have an accessible version.
Read aloud shows a small preview of the article and part of the beginning. It may take a while before reading aloud starts.
Sage Journals provides content through its platform and offers the option to download texts, which are automatically transformed into PDF files. All content provided by the platform is DRM-free, and there are no technical limitations set regarding downloading or printing.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
You can select the background colour (white, black, or grey) from Settings.
Animation pack: Closed captions available.
E-books have a Read Aloud feature and their accessibility can be enhanced from Edit Accessibility Settings (left side of the page) or Settings -> Accessibility options (at the bottom of the page). Settings allow you to change, for example, the font size or using a higher contrast.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
E-books that open in browser are compatible with browser extensions. Books can also be read with screen readers.
E-books that open in browser are compatible with browser extensions. Books can also be read with screen readers.
E-books open in browser and are compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Readers using reading aids are encouraged to download the books from Ellibs and read them on the computer using Thorium Reader, which is a more accessible reader app than Adobe Digital Editions. Thorium Reader also has several ease of use features. Some books can be read in browser, but the Read online option does not have accessible features and it is not easily used with reading aids.
NOTE! Only books in EPUB format can be read in browser. E-books in PDF must be downloaded into a reader app.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Books are read in a browser and they are compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Handbooks and standards can be read in PDF.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions. If reading aloud does not begin immediately, select the text first.
Cards from the indices open as PDFs.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Standards open as PDFs.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Statistical yearbooks can be downloaded as PDFs.
Browser screen reader extensions can only be used on the frontpage.
ST cards open in PDF and can be downloaded to your computer.
Publications submitted to Theseus between 23.9.2018–23.9.2020 are lacking in accessibility. These faults include, for example, alternate texts missing from graphs and tables. Some publications may have incorrect tags and problems with reading order or multilingual content.
Compatible with browser screen reader extensions.
Due to the size of the website, all pages have not been assessed for accessibility, so the site can be lacking in it.
Publications may include parts that despite efforts have not successfully been made accessible. Areas of improvement include:
Image kaboompics, Pixabay License.
Accessibility features regarding e-books vary.
E-book services may have e-books that function differently as they can be published in multiple different file formats.
The use may also vary based on what device you use for reading and which app the e-book service provides. For reading an e-book on a browser you can download a separate extension meant for listening to the text. With mobile devices, it is occasionally possible to use the device's own screen reader.
Sometimes e-books require a separate screen reader. In many e-book services you can download the book to Adobe Digital -reading program, that is generally compatible with different screen readers.
Some e-books may not be readable with a screen reader due to their DRM (Digital rights management) protection.
Electronic articles can be read either in PDF or HTML. Article databases might have their own built-in listening features and options to alter the text. The database features are being updated regularly, so try them out!
EBSCOhost: If the article is in an HTML format, you can use the database’s own Text-to-Speech -feature. Before listening, you can also select the highlighting color and reading speed by pressing the Listen-button. Some newer PDF articles can be listened to using the built-in reader in the PDF file. Download the article prior to listening.
ProQuest: When an article is opened as ‘Full text’ in HTML format, you can find the listening button before the text. The player settings cannot be changed. Note! The player does not work with all articles.
Some newer PDF articles can be listened to using the built-in reader in the PDF file. Download the article prior to listening.
Video: University of Worcester Library Services
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