Bookshelf by VitalSource
- Reading System Bookshelf
- Vendor VitalSource
- Assistive Technology: Narrator
- OS: Windows
- Browser: Chrome
- Tested with Braille: No
- Tested with Screenreader: Yes
- Input type: Keyboard
Results for Basic Functionality: 60%
Last updated: 13 October 2025
Test book used: Fundamental Accessibility Tests: Basic Functionality, version 2.0.0 .
These tests were done by kerscher@montana.com.
Summary
Using Narrator in the Insider Beta channel. The division of the reading controls, the top portion of the screen should be with scan mode off. The reading pane can be read in scan mode.
| Test ID | Name | Description | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| file-010 | Operating system/Platform accessibility: | If you are using a hardware device, it can be started independently and essential accessibility for starting and exiting applications is available. | Pass | |
| file-110 | The reading system can be activated independently | If you are using a reading app that requires you to create an online account then the complete getting started process should be accessible. | Pass | |
| file-210 | Open content | Open the Fundamental Accessibility Test book in the reading system. | Pass | You can navigate in the bookshelf in the library view and open titles you have. |
| file-310 | Access list of available content in the reading system | Check if you can navigate inside the bookshelf. | Pass | Works fine. |
| nav-005 | The table of contents in the app presents the content hierarchy | Check if the table of Contents is accessible and its hierarchy is presented correctly by the reading system | Pass | There are buttons which and expand each chapter. The headings in the chapter are read when the section is collapsed. One would navigate by buttons. |
| nav-010 | Navigate to chapters through the Table of Contents | Check if you can navigate to a section by using the table of contents. | Fail | You can get to the sub-heading in the TOC, but when you go to that item, the focus takes you to the betinning of the chapter. |
| nav-110 | Navigate content by pages | Check if you can navigate the content by pages. | Pass | There is an edit box for inputing the page number. The person must remove before editing. |
| nav-210 | Navigate forward and backward through reflowed content | Use any control or command to navigate forward and backwards in the book content. | Pass | No problem using scan mode features of Narattor. |
| nav-310 | Read navigation information | Use the "Where am I?" or any other similar command available in the reading system and check if you can get information about your current position in the book. | Fail | |
| nav-410 | Perform a search, review the search results | Perform a search, review the search results and navigate to the selected search result in the content. | Pass | There is an edit box to put in the search term. |
| nav-510 | Move across chapters without using TOC | Check if you can move across chapters without having to use the Table of Contents. | Pass | There are previous and next buttons. |
| anno-010 | Add a Bookmark or Highlight | Some reading systems may have a Highlight feature in place of Bookmarks. The tests for Bookmarks may then be performed with Highlights. | Fail | I do not find a way to add a highlight, bookmark, or note at a specific location. There should be shortcut keys for this functionality. |
| anno-110 | Review and navigate Bookmarks or Highlights | Check if you can review and navigate Bookmarks or Highlights. | Fail | |
| anno-210 | Add a note | Add a Note at this location in the book. Provide a few lines of text in the Note. | Fail | |
| anno-310 | Review and navigate Notes | Check if you can review and navigate Notes. | Fail |
Results for Non-visual Reading: 75%
Last updated: 4 November 2025
Test book used: Fundamental Accessibility Tests: Non-Visual Reading, version 2.0.1 .
These tests were done by kerscher@montana.com.
Summary
Using Narrator in the Insider Beta Channel. Narrator is working, but there are confusing parts moving between the reading pane and the navigation and control upper part of the interface.
| Test ID | Name | Description | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| reading-010 | Initiate "read from here" | Focus on the beginning of a paragraph or a sentence and initiate reading. Reading should continue until interrupted by the user or at the end of the current document, e.g. current chapter. The text being read should preferably remain in view, but this is not a requirement to pass the test. | Pass | The normal reading in scan mode is working fine. |
| reading-110 | Stop and resume reading at the same reading location | Initiate reading from any point in the book. Stop reading and note the last read position. Initiate reading again and check if reading starts at the last read location. | Pass | Can easily stop and resume. |
| reading-210 | All text should be read in the proper order | Sample text has been provided to test the reading order. The Paragraph 2 should be read after Paragraph 1. Note that visually Paragraph 2 is placed to the left of Paragraph 1 but it is second in the reading order. | Pass | Reading order works fine. |
| reading-310 | Image alternate text reading | Ensure that the alternate text for the image is available. | Pass | The alt text cannot be reviewed within the reading mode. I marked as pass because you can press the Narrator Key + Alt + X and review the speech output. |
| reading-420 | Footnote Reading | This tests the usability and functionality of footnotes. The markup includes the semantics that the reference is to a note,which could be announced to the reader. The destination could be a footnote or an endnote and announced to the reader. The link back to the original position has the semantics that it is a backlink and could also be announced to the reader. | Pass | This is working fine. |
| reading-510 | TTS allows pause for indicating headings, paragraphs, list items, etc | The user should be able to identify the difference between content items such as headings, paragraphs or list items by sufficient pauses in the TTS reading or appropriate formatting in the Braille device. | Pass | Working fine. |
| reading-610 | Navigate between the cells, rows and columns in the table | Check if you can navigate between the rows and columns of the table | Fail | You can navigate in the table, but the table headings are not being read. |
| reading-710 | Navigate between internal hyperlinks | Check if you can navigate between internal hyperlinks. | Pass | You can follow the link and return to the exact location. |
| reading-810 | Move to the next block item | Check if you can move to the next available page element e.g. paragraph, image or table by using a common key/gesture like swipe right, down arrow etc. | Pass | |
| reading-910 | Navigate by characters | Check if it is possible to navigate to next and previous character in the book text by way of any command or gesture. | Pass | |
| reading-1010 | Navigate by words | Check if it is possible to navigate to next and previous word in the book text by way of any command or gesture. | Pass | |
| reading-1110 | Navigate by lines | Check if it is possible to navigate to next and previous line in the book text by way of any command or gesture. | Pass | |
| reading-1210 | Navigate the content by headings | Check if you can move to the next and previous headings in this book without using the Table of Contents. | Pass | Heading navigation works fine in scan mode. |
| reading-1310 | Select and copy text | Reading systems should provide the ability to copy pieces of text that could be used for notes, in quotations, or to facilitate searching terms contained in the book. In some cases, this could be achieved using an AT such as a screen reader, for instance with a dedicated cursor or other procedures. | Fail | With Narrator it is possible to select the first word, but when selecting the second, the selection process fails. It seems to copy the rest of the content in the chapter. It is unclear what is going on. The same file when viewed outside of VitalSource Bookshelf works fine in Chrome and Edge. |
| reading-1410 | MathML Reading | The block and inline math expressions below are in the MathML format. We want to determine that the Assistive Technology (AT) identifies the math and enables the detailed exploration of the math with the chosen AT. | Fail | Math reading not supported yet. |
| reading-1510 | TTS Change Languages Automatically | Screen readers and other Assistive Technology that use TTS should be able to detect language changes marked in XHTML content. A screen reader should be able to be configured to automatically change the TTS speaking language when it encounters a language change in the XHTML. This test contains English, German, French, and Italian. | Fail | It reads the words in the TTS language selected; there is no real language change. |