LIBBY Accessibility Improvements

Submitted by Jeff Fisher

OverDrive continues to make adjustments to the LIBBY app to make the user experience more accessible for patrons with differing abilities.  

Some of the recent improvements include:

 

• Screen reader support: Low-vision and blind users can use screen readers to browse, borrow, read ebooks and magazines, and listen to audiobooks in Libby. Currently, Libby is tested with screen readers on the native mobile apps for iOS and Android, with plans to expand testing to desktop screen readers like NVDA and JAWS in the future.

• Read From Here: When using a screen reader, low-vision and blind users can enter "Read From Here" mode to have the text of an ebook or magazine read aloud.

• Navigation Bar labels: There's an option in the in-app menu to add labels beneath each of the navigation bar icons.
  Note: This setting is currently only available in the English language.

• Adjustable text size: Libby uses the text size setting of the user’s device and scales the text in the app accordingly. Users can increase the text size in ebooks manually.

• Adjustable playback speed for audiobooks: Users can choose from 48 speed settings to find the speed that best suits their needs.

• Keyboard shortcuts: Shortcuts in Libby’s ebook reader and audiobook player supplement the keyboard navigation.

• Lighting options: Libby uses the device’s built-in lighting setting and displays the app in light or dark mode accordingly. Users can also choose a lighting option (light, dark, or sepia) in the ebook reader manually.