S4Carlisle eLearning Blog

In digital academic publishing, metadata plays a key role in discoverability. Traditional elements such as titles, abstracts, keywords, and DOIs help researchers locate studies across databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Yet a quieter revolution is underway: ALT-text, the descriptive labels attached to images, figures, and diagrams, is emerging as the new frontier of metadata. Far from a mere accessibility checkbox, high-quality image descriptions now serve as r

Why Math and Science Journals Face Unique Accessibility Challenges STEM journals rely on equations, graphs, reaction schemes, and data tables to communicate precise ideas. These elements go far beyond plain text, creating barriers for readers who use screen readers, need high contrast, or view content on small screens. Standard web accessibility practices often assume linear prose, leaving the layered, two-dimensional nature of scientific content unaddressed. Publishers who i

Academic publishers face clear expectations from libraries. Digital resources must meet accessibility requirements before purchasing. The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) provides the standard way to document this. When completed, it becomes an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). Many libraries now treat a current ACR as a standard part of the procurement process. Higher education institutions rely on these reports to confirm compliance with laws such as th

Academic publishing is no longer a monochrome, English‑only enterprise. Researchers worldwide produce knowledge, but over 70 % of scholars in low‑ and middle‑income countries (LMICs) read and write primarily in their regional language. Ignoring this reality means leaving vast markets, citations, and revenue untapped. Launching regional language editions of scholarly journals isn’t a charitable gesture; it’s a strategic, data‑backed business decision. Below, we break down the