|By Gale Staff|
You may have noticed changes to your Gale resources in 2026, and we are continuing to make our resources more inclusive and accessible for all users. In March, we are introducing updates that improve navigation, search functionality, and admin preferences. These are part of our ongoing updates toward compliance of key platform features by April 2026.
The following improvements, planned for release in March 2026, are designed to enhance visibility, reduce cognitive load, and ensure content works more consistently with assistive tools such as screen readers and magnifiers. The simplified layout also helps screen reader users move through the page more predictably and reduces visual distraction for users with cognitive or low‑vision needs.
Enhancements include:
Home Page
- Banner text, including search options and database selection tool link, consolidated into containing box with white background to improve readability and asset screen reader navigation.
- Decorative background text has been removed from Basic Search bar to reduce potential confusion. The simplified layout also helps screen reader users move through the page more predictably and reduces visual distraction for users with cognitive or low‑vision needs.
Products Impacted:
- Gale Business: Entrepreneurship
- Gale Directory Library
- Gale eBooks
- Gale Health and Wellness
- Gale In Context (exception: Gale In Context: Elementary)
- Gale Literature
- Gale OneFile
- Gale Power Search
- Gale Presents: National Geographic
- Gale Presents: National Geographic Kids
- Gale Primary Sources (exception: Gale Primary Sources cross search)
- Gale Research Complete
Advanced Search
- Adjustments to display of Search Terms section (each row numerically labeled) and index definition field removed to support screen reader navigation.
- Index definitions now available via link labeled Search Index Help.
- Improvements to focus order to support keyboard navigation.
- Clear labeling supports more efficient keyboard and screen reader navigation, allowing users to adjust search criteria with fewer interruptions.
Products Impacted:
- Gale Business
- Gale Digital Scholar Lab
- Gale Directory Library
- Gale eBooks
- Gale Health and Wellness
- Gale In Context (exceptions: Gale In Context: Elementary, Gale In Context: For Educators*)
- Gale Literature
- Gale OneFile
- Gale Power Search
- Gale Presents: National Geographic
- Gale Presents: National Geographic Kids
- Gale Primary Sources
- Gale Research Complete
*Exceptions to be remediated at a later date
Search Results (including Topic Guide pages)
- Minor adjustments to Basic and Advanced search results display to support screen reader navigation.
- Adjustments to display of featured content and related topics to address focus and context for screen reader and keyboard navigation.
Products Impacted:
Search Results
- Gale Business
- Gale Directory Library
- Gale eBooks
- Gale Health and Wellness
- Gale In Context (exceptions: Gale In Context: Elementary, Gale In Context: For Educators*)
- Gale Literature
- Gale OneFile
- Gale Power Search
- Gale Presents: National Geographic
- Gale Presents: National Geographic Kids
- Gale Primary Sources
- Gale Research Complete
*Exceptions to be remediated at a later date
Topic Guides
- Gale Business: Entrepreneurship
- Gale Health and Wellness
- Gale In Context (exceptions: Gale In Context: Elementary, Gale In Context: For Educators*)
- Gale Literature Resource Center
- Gale Literature Criticism
- Gale Power Search
- Gale Research Complete
*Exceptions to be remediated at a later date
Term Frequency
- Search inputs, including term rows, year range, and content type, frequency, and popularity limiters reorganized to improve search form structure.
- Adjustments to display of Search Terms section (each row numerically labeled) to support screen reader navigation.
Products Impacted:
- Gale Literature
- Gale Primary Sources
Updates to Gale Admin
- On/off toggle to disable Highlights & Notes, Topic Finder, Browse Maps, Virtual Keyboard, and Sound is now available as a Gale Admin preference. Admin level controls allow institutions to tailor the user experience to local accessibility needs, reducing potential barriers by providing the means to turn off specific features that may not yet work consistently with all assistive technologies.
- Note that the toggle will default to your account’s existing settings. To change settings, simply navigate to Preferences/General Preferences in Gale Admin.
- Academic libraries who would like support in changing their toggle settings in Gale Admin should contact their Academic Engagement Specialist or [email protected] for assistance. School and public libraries can visit support.gale.com/connect.
Products Impacted:*
- Gale Business
- Gale Digital Scholar Lab
- Gale Directory Library
- Gale eBooks
- Gale Health and Wellness
- Gale In Context (exceptions: Gale In Context: Elementary, Gale In Context: For Educators†)
- Gale Literature
- Gale OneFile
- Gale Power Search
- Gale Presents: National Geographic
- Gale Presents: National Geographic Kids
- Gale Primary Sources
- Gale Research Complete
*Products listed above include at least one feature from the list above
†Exceptions to be remediated at a later date
