All libraries will be closed Monday, October 14th in celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Digital Accessibility

“When we invest in Richmond neighborhoods by having libraries that are open and accessible, our shared spaces and resources strengthen communities.” – Richmond Public Library 2022-2027 Strategic Plan

Providing accessible libraries is a foundational part of our 2022-2027 Strategic Plan. To honor this commitment, we’ve added the Recite Me web accessibility and language toolbar to our website to make it accessible and inclusive for as many people as possible.

You can open the Recite Me language and accessibility toolbar by clicking on the blue and gold ‘Accessibility Tools’ button in the bottom left corner of the page.

Recite Me accessibility and Language Support

After you click on the ‘Accessibility Tools’ button, the Recite Me toolbar opens and displays a range of different options to help people access our website and customize the content in a way that works best for them.

You can use the toolbar to:

  • Read website text aloud (including PDFs)
  • Download the text as an MP3 file to play it where and when it suits you
  • Change font sizes and colors
  • Customize background-color
  • Translate text into more than 100 different languages
  • Access a fully integrated dictionary and thesaurus

If you have any additional suggestions for making our website more accessible please contact us using our Website Suggestions/Concerns form.

How to Use the Recite Me Toolbar

Audio buttons in the Recite Me toolbar
Play Audio
Back: Rewind to the previous paragraph of text.
Play: Click the Play button to read the text aloud.
Forward: Skip forward to the next paragraph of text.


Text Options
Decrease: This will decrease the text size.
Font: You can change the font that displays on the page
Increase: This will increase the text size

color, ruler, and mask tools in the recite me toolbar
Color, Ruler, and Mask
Color: Change the background, text, and link colors
Ruler: Click to enable the reading ruler
Screen Mask: Will create a letterbox for focused viewing of a section of the page


Margins, Plain Text Mode, and Download Audio
Text Mode: Remove images to view content in plain text mode
Margins: Change the text dimensions by narrowing the width of the text column
Download Audio: Highlight the text then click the button to download the text as an audio file


Dictionary, Translation, and Magnifier
Dictionary: Highlight and click on this to view the definition of the word
Translation: Translate text into a different language
Magnifier: Click and drag the magnifying glass to magnify text on the screen.

settings buttons from the recite me tool bar
Settings, Reset, and User Guide
Settings: Adjust your Recite Me toolbar settings
Reset: This will restore the default settings
User Guide: This will give you an overview of the Recite Me Toolbar Features

close button from the recite me toolbar
Turn Off Recite Me
At any time, exit from Recite Me by clicking on the “X” in the top right corner.

You can learn more about how to use these options in the Recite Me Users Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to download anything to enable Recite Me?

A: No. Recite Me is cloud-based software so there is no need to install anything on your computer.

Q: How do I launch the Recite Me Toolbar?

A: To Launch the Recite Me web accessibility toolbar you will need to click on the Recite Me button. This will then launch the toolbar, which will appear at the top of the page.

Q: How Do I Disable the Auto Read?

A: To disable the auto read you need to click on the button marked “Settings”. This will give you a list of 3 functions to choose from. You need to click on the bottom to the right of the option marked “Autoplay” This will then disable auto read.

Q: Does Recite Me work across different operating systems and mobile devices?

A: Yes. Our software works on multiple devices and operating systems including Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, and Windows devices.

Q: Can I save my Settings?

A: The Recite Me toolbar uses cookies to save user settings.

Q: How do I change the Language?

A: To change the language of the website that you are viewing you need to select the button marked “Languages”. This will then produce a drop-down list of all the languages that Recite Me offers. Find the language that you want from the list and press on it. The site will then be converted to that language.

Q: How do I create an MP3?

A: To create an MP3, first turn off the Autoplay option located within the settings button. Highlight the section of text that you wish to create into an MP3. Once highlighted select the Download Audio button from the toolbar. You will then see a message telling you that your file is being created. Once created you will see the file appear ready at the bottom of the web page. You can now either listen to the file created or save it to a location of your choice.

Q: How do I Turn Recite Me Off?

A: To close the Recite toolbar simply click on the icon marked “Close” to the right of the Toolbar.

Q: Where can I find support for Recite Me?

If you have any questions about Recite Me you can contact them by email at info@reciteme.com or call them at +1 571 946 4068.