Gale uses ReadSpeaker text to speech to make their courses more accessible and inclusive.
Gale, part of Cengage Group, partners with librarians and educators around the world to connect learners to essential content through user-friendly technology that enhances experiences and improves learning outcomes. Understanding the importance of reaching all learners, Gale has embedded ReadSpeaker’s text to speech into their digital platform, supporting all learners.
Recognizing that in today’s world, the internet connects us in every aspect of our lives, Gale chose to make digital accessibility a top priority. However, Gale’s approach to accessibility goes beyond simple compliance, it is a key element in the overall Gale design philosophy. Databases aren’t simply accessible, they anticipate and address the diverse needs of users, reflecting the core value reflected in the tagline, “Gale, here for everyone.”
In order to ensure that Gale resources exceed accessibility standards, ReadSpeaker text to speech technology was made available to all users in the digital platform. It allows users to listen to content, read along with highlighted text, adjust reading speed and volume, and download an MP3 file for offline listening. In April of 2024, all Gale resources were upgraded to an enhanced version of ReadSpeaker technology, delivering an improved experience for learners and researchers.
What were your primary motivations for adopting text-to-speech? “Auditory and visual tools, such as text to speech, work to remove barriers and provide a more equitable experience for all Gale users. Originally, adopting a tool that allowed for text-to-speech allowed us to differentiate ourselves from our competitors. But, ReadSpeaker’s auditory and visual tools have helped us remove access barriers, making it possible for all students to learn using Gale’s digital resources.”
How does ReadSpeaker support your accessibility efforts? “First is their superb customer service experience. Tom DiPietropolo is one of the most kind & responsive vendor representatives we have ever had the pleasure of working with. Second, the improved performance of ReadSpeaker technology with a faster start time gives learners and researchers a superior experience. Users will have easier access to the most important and most used ReadSpeaker tools with increased mobile responsiveness. It will make it easier for users to learn on the go.”
Have you received comments from educators or students? “Our customers love this tool. Especially those who work with multilingual learners, allowing them to provide a level playing field. Our educators who access our professional development eBooks also love this tool, as it allows for the downloaded audio to listen during their commutes and free time.”
What has been the best thing about working with ReadSpeaker? “The ease of integrating Readspeaker with our resources, as well as the excellent vendor relationship & responsiveness.”
How do you talk about ReadSpeaker to customers and potential adopters? “When speaking with customers and potential adopters, we stress the ability of this tool to allow institutions & districts to provide a more equitable experience within their Gale products.”
How is ReadSpeaker used within your platform? “ReadSpeaker is seamlessly integrated within our products, allowing users to more easily interact with the content within our databases and platforms. Users of all ages 5-100+ have the ability to interact with this tool.”
What factors influenced your selection of your text to speech provider? “A few factors that were considered included languages included within audio translations, the ability to download to MP3, and feasibility to integrate with products.”
Did you encounter any technical challenges? How was technical support handled and how effective was it? “Given some of the functionality in our product (such as highlight & notes), we had to work with ReadSpeakers tech support to turn off certain features. They were wonderful to work with, incredibly knowledgeable and responsive.”
What are your future plans for utilizing text to speech? “One consideration that has come up that we’re exploring is integrating this experience into our customer facing website. We’re currently working through a redesign, so it may not work out. However, just the option alone is fantastic!”
Would you recommend ReadSpeaker? “Absolutely. We would love to be the only providers offering this tool, as it is a fantastic differentiator. However, the idea of more users anywhere experiencing a more equitable journey is the ultimate goal for us here at Gale. When we say we’re here for everyone, we mean it.”
Gale, part of Cengage Group, partners with librarians and educators around the world to connect learners to essential content through user-friendly technology that enhances experiences and improves learning outcomes.