Various software and tools can be used to enhance the accessibility of eBooks. The options will depend on the eBook format, whether you are reading it online or downloading it, features you would like to use and personal preference. Our recommendations are below, along with alternatives under 'More accessibility options'.
Before you begin, we recommend that you:
- Install Adobe Digital Editions if using your own computer. This is freely available and on all Library PCs. See the Library website Software page for more information. Adobe Digital Editions is our recommended tool for opening downloaded EPUB eBooks. It is also the software which must used to open downloaded PDF eBooks from VLeBooks.
Accessibility information from the provider
You may find the VLeBooks accessibility statement helpful.
Read aloud:
Read online:
Go to the page that you want read aloud and click on the ReadALoud icon 
in the top right-hand corner. The text will automatically be read aloud. The ReadAloud box will open on the page which allows you to adjust the volume and speed, rewind, forward and pause. For books available in EPUB format you will also be able to change the voice.
Downloaded PDF or EPUB opened in Adobe Digital Editions:
You can have the eBook read aloud to you by following these instructions: How can I have unselectable text read aloud to me using Read & Write software?
It is not possible to have the eBooks read aloud with the Texthelp Read & Write plugin for Google Chrome.
Change background colour:
Read online - PDF:
You can select from a range of background colours by clicking the Background Colours icon 
in the top right-hand corner. The Background Colours box will open on the page, select the option you want and click OK.
Read online - EPUB:
Click on the Settings icon in the top-right corner, choose your preferred Page Colour and click on Apply. You can also change the Font colour and a range of other helpful settings such as a Reading Ruler, Line spacing, high contrast mode and font.
Downloaded PDF or EPUB opened in Adobe Digital Editions:
There is no inbuilt option to change the background colour. You may be able to change background colours using your web browser or operating system settings
Change text size:
Read online:
You can increase and decrease the text size using the plus and minus 
symbols in the top right-hand corner. For books available in PDF format, when you zoom the text does not reflow (automatically adjust to fit on the page at the new zoom level). For books available in EPUB format, when you change the zoom level the text reflows (automatically adjusts to fit on the page at the new zoom level).
Download:
PDF opened in Adobe Digital Editions:
There are 6 different zoom levels available. You can change the level by clicking on Reading on the top toolbar. You can also zoom in by pressing the Ctrl and + keys and, zoom out by pressing the Ctrl and - keys. The text does not reflow (automatically adjust to fit on the page at the new zoom level) when the text size is changed.
EPUB opened in Adobe Digital Editions:
There are 5 different zoom levels available. You can change the level by clicking on the AA button on the toolbar in the top right-hand corner and selecting the size you require. You can also change the zoom level by clicking on Reading on the top toolbar, then EPUB Text Size and clicking on Increase or Decrease. You can also zoom in by pressing the Ctrl and + keys and, zoom out by pressing the Ctrl and - keys. The text reflows (automatically adjusts to fit on the page at the new zoom level) when the text size is changed.
More accessibility options:
Zooming:
- You can change the zoom level of a whole web page using your browser. To zoom in, press Ctrl (Windows) or command (Mac) and the + key. To zoom out, press Ctrl/command and the - key. Press Ctrl/command and 0 to set the zoom level back to default.
- You may be able to make text on your screen appear larger using inbuilt features of your operating system.
- Microsoft Edge can be used to change the zoom level of PDFs but the text does not reflow (automatically adjust to fit on the page at the new zoom level).
Colours:
- You may also be able to change colours using your web browser or operating system settings.
- For additional accessibility options for PDFs e.g. changing font colour, see: Accessibility tools within Adobe Reader
Software and tools:
- Texthelp Read & Write software (which is installed on all Library PCs) provides accessibility tools
- There is also a browser toolbar Read & Write for Google Chrome (also works in Microsoft Edge) which offers many of the functions of the full software
- See the Assistive Software page for more information about Read & Write and other tools
