Assessment for Canadian Literary Centre by Boréal - Module 3: Interface Structure

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Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text, or from the link text together with its surrounding context?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Most links (e.g., “PDF Full Text”, “Download”, “Cite”, etc.) are clearly descriptive. Where icons are used, context or tooltips clarify link purpose. Links within lists or search results are accompanied by meaningful text and context.
Can keyboard focus be moved to all page elements?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Tested using Tab and arrow keys across homepage, advanced search, results page, and account sections. All interactive elements receive focus.
If moving keyboard focus away from a component requires more than arrow or tab keys, is this clearly indicated on the page?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: There is no point in the interface where extra instructions are required beyond Tab/Shift+Tab. All controls respond to basic keyboard input.
Is default keyboard navigation order logical and intuitive, following the visual flow of the page as described above?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Navigation follows visual layout: header → search fields → filters → results → footer. Logical progression observed across key pages.
When using a keyboard to navigate the interface, is the keyboard focus indicator visible?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Visible focus indicators (highlighted outlines or underlines) consistently appear as the user navigates through interactive components.
Does all interactive functionality work via keyboard, and does it behave consistently and as expected?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Functions such as search submission, filter application, form entry, and account access all behave as expected with keyboard controls.
Does focus order move sequentially across form fields?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Focus moves logically through search forms and advanced search options. No skipping or unexpected jumps.
Are there skip links (either visible or invisible)?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Tested in Google Chrome using keyboard navigation (Tab key before clicking anywhere on the page). A "Skip to Main Content" link appeared at the top of the page.
Are skip links visible or invisible?
Answer: Sometimes
Score: 1
Notes: The skip link is invisible by default but becomes visible upon keyboard focus. This behavior is consistent with accessibility best practices.
Are skip links (visible or invisible) positioned prominently near the beginning of the page?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The skip link is one of the first elements encountered when using keyboard navigation. It appears after 1–2 Tab presses from the top of the page.
Are skip links labelled properly?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The link is clearly labelled as “Skip to Main Content”, providing accurate and meaningful navigation for screen reader and keyboard users.
Are skip links accessible via keyboard?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Confirmed that skip links can be activated with the Tab key and Enter, successfully moving focus directly to the main content.
Do anchors (link destinations) appear at the beginning of the relevant content?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: After activating the skip link, keyboard focus moved to the main heading of the content section, confirming the presence of correctly placed anchor destinations.
Do skip navigation controls appear in the same place on every page?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: The skip link appears consistently across all tested pages (homepage, results page, item view, account login), indicating strong structural consistency.
Does the reader capture accurate information as it appears in the table and the columns and rows?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Using Read&Write for Google Chrome, the screen reader read the table content in the correct row-by-row and column-by-column order, matching the visual presentation. Headings were clearly announced, and no data was skipped or misread.
Does the screen reader successfully navigate from one frame to another?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Using NVDA, keyboard shortcuts allowed seamless navigation between frames. The screen reader announced transitions such as “navigational frame” and “main content,” confirming logical flow.
Does each frame have a meaningful title that tells the user the purpose of the frame?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Frame titles were descriptive and functional. Labels like “Navigation Frame”, “Search Results”, and “Main Content” were provided and properly announced by the screen reade
When navigating the page using keyboard navigation, is the user able to navigate effectively from one frame to the next?
Answer: Always
Score: 2
Notes: Navigation using Tab, Shift+Tab, and NVDA frame-switch commands was smooth. Focus moved logically between frames without unexpected changes or confusion.
eResource: Canadian Literary Centre
eResource Type: Database
Vendor: EBSCO
Institution: Boréal
Score: A+

Key Findings

Strengths

  • All interactive functionality works consistently for users who are navigating a site via keyboard
  • Screen readers accurately capture information presented in tables

Navigation Links

Question Answer Notes Images
Can the purpose of each link be determined from the link text, or from the link text together with its surrounding context? Always Most links (e.g., “PDF Full Text”, “Download”, “Cite”, etc.) are clearly descriptive. Where icons are used, context or tooltips clarify link purpose. Links within lists or search results are accompanied by meaningful text and context.

Keyboard Navigation

Question Answer Notes Images
Can keyboard focus be moved to all page elements? Always Tested using Tab and arrow keys across homepage, advanced search, results page, and account sections. All interactive elements receive focus.
If moving keyboard focus away from a component requires more than arrow or tab keys, is this clearly indicated on the page? Always There is no point in the interface where extra instructions are required beyond Tab/Shift+Tab. All controls respond to basic keyboard input.
Is default keyboard navigation order logical and intuitive, following the visual flow of the page as described above? Always Navigation follows visual layout: header → search fields → filters → results → footer. Logical progression observed across key pages.
When using a keyboard to navigate the interface, is the keyboard focus indicator visible? Always Visible focus indicators (highlighted outlines or underlines) consistently appear as the user navigates through interactive components.
Does all interactive functionality work via keyboard, and does it behave consistently and as expected? Always Functions such as search submission, filter application, form entry, and account access all behave as expected with keyboard controls.
Does focus order move sequentially across form fields? Always Focus moves logically through search forms and advanced search options. No skipping or unexpected jumps.

Skip Links

Question Answer Notes Images
Are there skip links (either visible or invisible)? Always Tested in Google Chrome using keyboard navigation (Tab key before clicking anywhere on the page). A "Skip to Main Content" link appeared at the top of the page.
Are skip links visible or invisible? Sometimes The skip link is invisible by default but becomes visible upon keyboard focus. This behavior is consistent with accessibility best practices.
Are skip links (visible or invisible) positioned prominently near the beginning of the page? Always The skip link is one of the first elements encountered when using keyboard navigation. It appears after 1–2 Tab presses from the top of the page.
Are skip links labelled properly? Always The link is clearly labelled as “Skip to Main Content”, providing accurate and meaningful navigation for screen reader and keyboard users.
Are skip links accessible via keyboard? Always Confirmed that skip links can be activated with the Tab key and Enter, successfully moving focus directly to the main content.
Do anchors (link destinations) appear at the beginning of the relevant content? Always After activating the skip link, keyboard focus moved to the main heading of the content section, confirming the presence of correctly placed anchor destinations.
Do skip navigation controls appear in the same place on every page? Always The skip link appears consistently across all tested pages (homepage, results page, item view, account login), indicating strong structural consistency.

Tables

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the reader capture accurate information as it appears in the table and the columns and rows? Always Using Read&Write for Google Chrome, the screen reader read the table content in the correct row-by-row and column-by-column order, matching the visual presentation. Headings were clearly announced, and no data was skipped or misread.

Frames

Question Answer Notes Images
Does the screen reader successfully navigate from one frame to another? Always Using NVDA, keyboard shortcuts allowed seamless navigation between frames. The screen reader announced transitions such as “navigational frame” and “main content,” confirming logical flow.
Does each frame have a meaningful title that tells the user the purpose of the frame? Always Frame titles were descriptive and functional. Labels like “Navigation Frame”, “Search Results”, and “Main Content” were provided and properly announced by the screen reade
When navigating the page using keyboard navigation, is the user able to navigate effectively from one frame to the next? Always Navigation using Tab, Shift+Tab, and NVDA frame-switch commands was smooth. Focus moved logically between frames without unexpected changes or confusion.
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