Library Article Databases & ADA Accessibility

The library's databases present articles and abstracts in two different formats: PDF or HTML. HTML articles may be read by read aloud software very easily. PDFs can present some issues. PDF accessibility depends on how the articles were scanned. In some cases, security features (to prevent the document from being altered) may interfere with a PDFs accessibility.

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat both have a read aloud feature. This feature will allow pdfs that are ADA accesible to be read out loud for patrons.

NOTE: The absolute best way to make use of Adobe's accessibility features is to use Adobe in conjunction with your assistive technology screen reader software. In the library, screen reader software is available in the Media Center on the Adaptive Workstation.

The instructions below are intended for machines that do not have assistive technology installed on them.

To turn the read aloud feature on:

• open the pdf
• go to the View option at the top of the screen and select Read Out Loud and then scroll down to the last option listed called, Activate Read Out Loud
• click on the screen to begin reading

To pause, select a specific section, or, read to the end of the document, select view, the read out loud option, and then the appropriate option (pause, etc.)

Built in ADA Accessibility Features in Databases

All of the EBSCO vendor databases (see list below) have a read aloud feature for HTML articles that may be manually activated.

• the Listen icon appears at the bottom of the Tools list on the right hand side of all full text, HTML, articles in the database.
• you may select three different accents and reading speeds
• to pause the reading, click on the pause button

List of EBSCO databases with the Read Aloud Feature (called Text-to-Speech in the databases):

• Academic Search Complete
• America History & Life
• Historical Abstracts
• Business Source Complete
• Africa Wide Ni-PAD
• EBSCO Animals
• Left Index
• LGBT Life
• REgional Business News
• RILM Abstracts of Music Literature
• RIPM: Retrospective Index to Music Periodicals
• GreenFile
• Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts
• MasterFILE Premier
• Middle Search Plus
• Military & Government Collection
• Newspaper Source
• Primary Search
• ATLA Religion Database
• Music Index Online