Databases: Trials, Access Issues, New Acquisitions

Many of the databases available for Macdonald-Kelce Library users follow the standards of 29 U.S.C. 794d (more commonly known as Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act) and/or use Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as part of the accessibility verification process.

In this guide, you will find a selection of the accessibility features in the databases, ebooks and other resources we make available. Please contact the Library if you have questions about any of the Library's resources.

Many EBSCO and Gale databases provide a read aloud option and download to mp3 feature for fulltext articles available in HTML format.

            Select the HTML Full Text link.
            Click on the orange play icon (appearing just under the article's
            title) to start the audio.
            You can select up to three accents from the drop down menu box.
            Click the download icon to download an mp3 file of the audio.

Adobe Acrobat Reader

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

In Windows OS 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. If you do not see View, go to the Menu in the top left and then select View.
• 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.)

In Mac OS to turn the read aloud feature on:

• open the PDF
• go to the Edit option at the top of the screen and select Speech and then select the option, Start Speaking
• reader will start automatically

To stop, select Edit at the top of the screen, then select Speech, and last select the option, Stop Speaking