eResources are produced in many different formats, and all of them vary in quality and levels of accessibility. Some patrons might find one format easier than another, based solely on their familiarity with it. Some devices can only read a specific type of file format.
No single format will provide the most accessible experience for everyone, and not all resources are available in the formats that work best for you.
If you can't find a text in a format that is accessible to you, please Contact Us during the 9am to 5pm work week. Our Library Staff may be able to acquire an alternative on your behalf. See our page on Accessible Interlibrary Loans for more details.
Some of the most common formats available through our library or used by students are described below. To learn more about a wider variety of formats, visit the NNELS page on Understanding Formats.
This is one of the most commonly published formats, as it produces a result that looks the most like a printed book. It's usually used when finalizing documents to print or send to another person because it will lock in the formatting of the document, regardless of what system you're using to open it.
Here are some of the attributes of the PDF file type:
If the PDF you have isn't searchable (using Ctrl+F), it's because the contents are being viewed like an image instead of a text. The easiest way to turn an image PDF to a text (aka OCR) PDF is to use an online converter. All converters will have limitations as incentive to sign up for their full services, but some options to get started are outlined below.
See Adobe's article: How to make a PDF file searchable for more information.
See ILovePDF - FAQ for more information.
If you need assistance with file conversion, please email library@ukings.ca and we will do what we can to help.
The Microsoft Word DOC/DOCX format is the one most familiar to students. All students, staff and faculty have free access to the Microsoft Office Suite through IT Services, and Word will save files to DOC format by default.
Using a Word DOC provides a variety of ways for the reader to edit the file in a way that works best for them, including:
Word has its own speech-to-text and screen reader functions. For more information, visit Microsoft's page on Accessibility tools for Word.
DOC files can be opened in many different programs, not just Microsoft Word, but the accessibility features will vary depending on where it is opened, even between the desktop Word program and the web version.
Convert any PDF to Word DOC by using the free Adobe PDF to Word file converter.
This is the most mainstream eBook format, and the most accessible when created properly.
It can be used with Braille display, text-to-speech, and nearly all screen readers.
EPUB is HTML-based, which makes it highly adaptable, and readable with any e-reading software.
As with most file types, screen readers vary, but can usually read HTML.
Accessibility depends on proper coding by the publisher.
Works with most in-built and system screen readers.
When the option is given, can be downloaded to an mp3.
Used as the base of EPUBs, so you will get many of the same adaptable features with HTML, though there may be some variation.