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eBook Collections: Text to Speech

Guide for finding and using eBooks

Some advice on Text to Speech

Two methods that worked for me -- August 2020 JW I've had two successes.  I had saved a chapter as a PDF already.  In Adobe, I saved it again as an html document.  I opened the file then in Firefox.  Firefox has an Add-on (or extension) called "Read Aloud : A Text to Speech Voice Reader."  The icon sits on upper right toolbar. This works easily.

But better, set up Narrator in Windows Settings >> Ease of Use.  This will be different in Mac systems.
In Edge (or other browser) I opened the ebook, went to a chapter and used the Download a chapter button.  When I went to download the pdf, I got a pop-up saying it recognized I was using assistive technology.  It gave me a chance to exit that assistive-technology supporting version, but otherwise I just accepted the defaults and hit Start.  Then with that in place, I started Narrator.  The reader worked well, although I'll have to practice navigation.  (The good part about this is that Adobe also has a highlighter that worked fine.  I assume you would have to save with new highlighting each time you close the file.)  


This probably would work whether you came from Chrome or Edge or Firefox, but I'm not sure.
 
Another advantage for both these methods, to me, is that they do not require log in.  No need for an account or to remember your password.  No worries about single-user books.  You just get permanent PDFs.


Most of these ebooks limit how many pages you can download to PDF.  Occasionally, the limit is very low. Ask for help if that interferes with your use.

Health Sciences Librarian

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John Wiswell

Levine Hall 542F & Belk Library 225, (828)262-7853