Assessment for Canadian Literary Centre by Boréal - Module 1: Interface Appearance

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Are the images positioned prominently and easy to find?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: All main images (logo, icons, book covers) are well-positioned and easy to locate across all tested pages: homepage, advanced search, results, and item detail pages. No images are placed in hidden or non-prominent areas. Tested with 200% zoom without layout issues.
Are there functional images embedded in the background?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Some functional icons (e.g., the search or email buttons) were flagged by WAVE as empty buttons. These lack accessible alternative text, which may pose an issue for users navigating with screen readers.
Do informative images contain appropriate alt text or an appropriate textual alternative?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Most key images such as logos, book cover thumbnails, and functional icons (like "PDF", "Cite", and "Email") include appropriate alt text. However, WAVE flagged a few empty buttons and empty links (likely icon-only buttons) that are missing descriptive alternative text. These gaps reduce the usability of the platform for screen reader users.

Example errors from WAVE:

Empty button: no value or label, leaving users unsure of its function.

Empty link: lacks alt text or inner text entirely, making the link meaningless to assistive technologies.
Do functional images contain appropriate alt text or an appropriate textual alternative?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Several key functional icons (such as "Cite", "Email", "Print", or "Folder") include appropriate tooltips or alternative text. However, the WAVE tool identified empty buttons, which lack descriptive alt text or a textual equivalent. These issues affect screen reader accessibility by failing to communicate the function of the button to the user.
Do images used as text contain appropriate alt text or an appropriate textual alternative?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Images used as text -- such as the EBSCOhost logo or service names — include appropriate alt text that mirrors the visible text. The logo, for example, contains an alt attribute that says "EBSCOhost", allowing screen reader users to receive the same information as sighted users.
Are there icons where appropriate, such as icons to indicate PDF Full Text, Download, Folder, Citation, etc?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The interface consistently uses clear and helpful icons such as "PDF", "Cite", "Email", and "Add to Folder" across search result and article detail pages. These icons are visually distinct and aid in user navigation. Most are also accompanied by text or tooltips, improving accessibility for screen reader users as well.
When zoomed in at 200%, is text intact, readable, and not cut off?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: When zoomed to 200%, all text remains readable, properly aligned, and intact. Headings, paragraphs, and menus do not get cut off or overlap. No layout breaks were observed on key pages such as the homepage, search results, or article view.
Are images clear and unpixelated at 200%?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Informational images (e.g., book covers), icons (functional images), and images used as text (e.g., logos) all appear sharp and remain legible when zoomed to 200%. No blurry or pixelated images were observed during testing.


Is horizontal scrolling minimized at 200%?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: Most areas of the page adapt well to zooming and avoid horizontal scrolling. However, some sections like search result grids or item details occasionally introduce a small horizontal scroll, particularly on narrower screen widths. This does not majorly affect usability but may require minor adjustments for full compliance.
Do text and images have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: WAVE analysis identified several contrast errors across the interface. Most body text meets the WCAG minimum ratio of 4.5:1, but certain elements — particularly footer links, light-colored icons, and inactive buttons — do not meet the minimum contrast threshold. These may present readability issues for users with visual impairments.
Do colour coded graphs have text equivalents?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: No colour-coded graphs were found in the Canadian Literary Centre interface. The platform primarily uses text, icons, and buttons. There are no charts or graphs that rely solely on colour to convey meaning.
Are blocks of content separated from one another using visual separation (such as whitespace or borders)?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Yes, content sections are clearly separated using consistent layout structures, whitespace, and visual dividers. Examples include search result lists, sidebar tools, and record details which are well-distinguished using padding, lines, and layout formatting.
Are text alternatives provided where colour is used to indicate an action?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Actions such as "Search", "Cite", or "Add to Folder" are clearly indicated through both colour and icon/text labels. For instance, the green “Search” button includes text, and visited/unvisited links are underlined and distinct, meeting accessibility standards.
Is there a choice embedded within the database that offers text to speech or read aloud options?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The Canadian Literary Centre, via EBSCOhost, provides a built-in Read Aloud feature powered by ReadSpeaker for records available in HTML Full Text. The button labeled "Listen" is prominently placed above the article and allows users to play, pause, or download audio of the text. This supports accessibility for blind, partially sighted, and neurodiverse users.
Using your mouse, is the clickable area around links and buttons large enough for users to see and activate easily?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: All tested links and buttons — including “PDF”, “Cite”, “Email”, “Add to Folder”, and article titles — have sufficiently large clickable areas. They are easily clickable with a mouse or touchpad, and spacing is consistent throughout the platform.
Using your mouse to test links, are links and buttons far enough apart for users to accurately activate?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Buttons and links are spaced well and are not clustered too closely. This reduces the chance of accidental clicks, especially for users with motor disabilities or those using touch interfaces. Search results and sidebar tools are clearly separated.
Using any method to test links, are all links and buttons functional (i.e., not dead)?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: All tested links and buttons worked as expected, redirecting to article pages, citation tools, export options, and navigation elements. No dead links were encountered during the evaluation.
Are links or buttons accessible via keyboard navigation?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Using the Tab key, all interactive elements — including navigation menus, search result titles, toolbar icons, and buttons — can be accessed in a logical order. The platform maintains good focus visibility, making it fully keyboard navigable.
Can users pause carousel movement?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: No carousel or scrolling image components were found on the Canadian Literary Centre interface via EBSCOhost. The homepage and content areas are static, and no automatically advancing elements (e.g., rotating banners or sliders) were detected.
Is all functionality, including navigating between carousel items, operable by keyboard?
Answer: Not Applicable
Score: -1
Notes: As no dynamic carousel elements were present, there was no keyboard navigation required for rotating content. All interactions on the site (search, navigation, viewing records) are static and keyboard-friendly
Is the order of the text preserved at all screen resolutions, without overlap?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The text content retains its logical flow and reading order across all tested screen resolutions, including iPad (portrait/landscape) and iPhone formats. Headings, paragraphs, and navigation elements do not overlap or shift inappropriately.
Do images avoid overlapping at all screen resolutions?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: All images — including book covers, icons, and logos — scale properly and do not overlap with adjacent content on any tested resolution. The interface adjusts responsively without visual clutter or image collision.
Is the overall reading experience preserved at all screen resolutions?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The reading experience remains clear and consistent on all screen sizes. Fonts resize appropriately, content remains legible, and functional areas like search, filters, and results adjust neatly to the screen size.
eResource: Canadian Literary Centre
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: EBSCO
Institution: Boréal
Score: A

Key Findings

Strengths

  • Information is preserved at different screen resolutions

Weaknesses

  • Some text and images meet contrast requirements
  • Some images contain a textual alternative
  • Some information is distorted when zoomed in at 200%

Images

Positioning of Images

Question Answer Notes Images
Are the images positioned prominently and easy to find? Always All main images (logo, icons, book covers) are well-positioned and easy to locate across all tested pages: homepage, advanced search, results, and item detail pages. No images are placed in hidden or non-prominent areas. Tested with 200% zoom without layout issues.

Functional images embedded in the background

Question Answer Notes Images
Are there functional images embedded in the background? Sometimes Some functional icons (e.g., the search or email buttons) were flagged by WAVE as empty buttons. These lack accessible alternative text, which may pose an issue for users navigating with screen readers.

Presence of Icons

Question Answer Notes Images
Are there icons where appropriate, such as icons to indicate PDF Full Text, Download, Folder, Citation, etc? Always The interface consistently uses clear and helpful icons such as "PDF", "Cite", "Email", and "Add to Folder" across search result and article detail pages. These icons are visually distinct and aid in user navigation. Most are also accompanied by text or tooltips, improving accessibility for screen reader users as well.

Alt Text

Question Answer Notes Images
Do informative images contain appropriate alt text or an appropriate textual alternative? Sometimes Most key images such as logos, book cover thumbnails, and functional icons (like "PDF", "Cite", and "Email") include appropriate alt text. However, WAVE flagged a few empty buttons and empty links (likely icon-only buttons) that are missing descriptive alternative text. These gaps reduce the usability of the platform for screen reader users. Example errors from WAVE: Empty button: no value or label, leaving users unsure of its function. Empty link: lacks alt text or inner text entirely, making the link meaningless to assistive technologies.
Do functional images contain appropriate alt text or an appropriate textual alternative? Sometimes Several key functional icons (such as "Cite", "Email", "Print", or "Folder") include appropriate tooltips or alternative text. However, the WAVE tool identified empty buttons, which lack descriptive alt text or a textual equivalent. These issues affect screen reader accessibility by failing to communicate the function of the button to the user.
Do images used as text contain appropriate alt text or an appropriate textual alternative? Always Images used as text -- such as the EBSCOhost logo or service names — include appropriate alt text that mirrors the visible text. The logo, for example, contains an alt attribute that says "EBSCOhost", allowing screen reader users to receive the same information as sighted users.

Content Scaling

Question Answer Notes Images
When zoomed in at 200%, is text intact, readable, and not cut off? Always When zoomed to 200%, all text remains readable, properly aligned, and intact. Headings, paragraphs, and menus do not get cut off or overlap. No layout breaks were observed on key pages such as the homepage, search results, or article view.
Are images clear and unpixelated at 200%? Always Informational images (e.g., book covers), icons (functional images), and images used as text (e.g., logos) all appear sharp and remain legible when zoomed to 200%. No blurry or pixelated images were observed during testing.
Is horizontal scrolling minimized at 200%? Sometimes Most areas of the page adapt well to zooming and avoid horizontal scrolling. However, some sections like search result grids or item details occasionally introduce a small horizontal scroll, particularly on narrower screen widths. This does not majorly affect usability but may require minor adjustments for full compliance.

Colour and Contrast

Question Answer Notes Images
Do text and images have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1? Sometimes WAVE analysis identified several contrast errors across the interface. Most body text meets the WCAG minimum ratio of 4.5:1, but certain elements — particularly footer links, light-colored icons, and inactive buttons — do not meet the minimum contrast threshold. These may present readability issues for users with visual impairments.

Colour

Question Answer Notes Images
Do colour coded graphs have text equivalents? Not Applicable No colour-coded graphs were found in the Canadian Literary Centre interface. The platform primarily uses text, icons, and buttons. There are no charts or graphs that rely solely on colour to convey meaning.
Are blocks of content separated from one another using visual separation (such as whitespace or borders)? Always Yes, content sections are clearly separated using consistent layout structures, whitespace, and visual dividers. Examples include search result lists, sidebar tools, and record details which are well-distinguished using padding, lines, and layout formatting.
Are text alternatives provided where colour is used to indicate an action? Always Actions such as "Search", "Cite", or "Add to Folder" are clearly indicated through both colour and icon/text labels. For instance, the green “Search” button includes text, and visited/unvisited links are underlined and distinct, meeting accessibility standards.

Text to speech

Question Answer Notes Images
Is there a choice embedded within the database that offers text to speech or read aloud options? Always The Canadian Literary Centre, via EBSCOhost, provides a built-in Read Aloud feature powered by ReadSpeaker for records available in HTML Full Text. The button labeled "Listen" is prominently placed above the article and allows users to play, pause, or download audio of the text. This supports accessibility for blind, partially sighted, and neurodiverse users.

Clustered Links

Question Answer Notes Images
Using your mouse, is the clickable area around links and buttons large enough for users to see and activate easily? Always All tested links and buttons — including “PDF”, “Cite”, “Email”, “Add to Folder”, and article titles — have sufficiently large clickable areas. They are easily clickable with a mouse or touchpad, and spacing is consistent throughout the platform.
Using your mouse to test links, are links and buttons far enough apart for users to accurately activate? Always Buttons and links are spaced well and are not clustered too closely. This reduces the chance of accidental clicks, especially for users with motor disabilities or those using touch interfaces. Search results and sidebar tools are clearly separated.
Using any method to test links, are all links and buttons functional (i.e., not dead)? Always All tested links and buttons worked as expected, redirecting to article pages, citation tools, export options, and navigation elements. No dead links were encountered during the evaluation.
Are links or buttons accessible via keyboard navigation? Always Using the Tab key, all interactive elements — including navigation menus, search result titles, toolbar icons, and buttons — can be accessed in a logical order. The platform maintains good focus visibility, making it fully keyboard navigable.

Dynamic content

Question Answer Notes Images
Can users pause carousel movement? Not Applicable No carousel or scrolling image components were found on the Canadian Literary Centre interface via EBSCOhost. The homepage and content areas are static, and no automatically advancing elements (e.g., rotating banners or sliders) were detected.
Is all functionality, including navigating between carousel items, operable by keyboard? Not Applicable As no dynamic carousel elements were present, there was no keyboard navigation required for rotating content. All interactions on the site (search, navigation, viewing records) are static and keyboard-friendly

Liquid layout

Question Answer Notes Images
Is the order of the text preserved at all screen resolutions, without overlap? Always The text content retains its logical flow and reading order across all tested screen resolutions, including iPad (portrait/landscape) and iPhone formats. Headings, paragraphs, and navigation elements do not overlap or shift inappropriately.
Do images avoid overlapping at all screen resolutions? Always All images — including book covers, icons, and logos — scale properly and do not overlap with adjacent content on any tested resolution. The interface adjusts responsively without visual clutter or image collision.
Is the overall reading experience preserved at all screen resolutions? Always The reading experience remains clear and consistent on all screen sizes. Fonts resize appropriately, content remains legible, and functional areas like search, filters, and results adjust neatly to the screen size.
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