Texas State Digital Repository Submission Guide

The Texas State University Libraries are committed to ensuring that research and creative works shared through the TXST Digital Repository are accessible to all users. When preparing your materials for submission, we encourage you to follow these accessibility best practices.

More information is also available in the TXST Information Security Office Digital Accessibility Guides:

• Use Clear, Descriptive Titles and Headings
  • Organize documents using proper heading structures (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.).
• Include Alternative Text for Images and Media
  • Provide concise, meaningful alt text for all images, graphs, charts, and figures.
• Ensure Sufficient Color Contrast
  • Text should have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against the background. Avoid using color alone to convey meaning.
• Use Descriptive Link Text
  • Instead of "Click here," use meaningful text like "Download the Supplementary Manuscript."
• Provide Transcripts and Captions for Multimedia
  • Include captions for video content and transcripts for audio recordings to support users with hearing impairments.

• Use Built-In Accessibility Tools
  • Microsoft Word and PowerPoint include accessibility checkers. Run these before submitting files.
• Export to Accessible PDF
  • When saving to a PDF, us the "Save as PDF" option and check "Best for Electronic Distribution and Accessibility."
• Tag PDF Files Properly
  • Ensure PDFs have a logical reading order and tagged headings for screen readers.
• Avoid Scanned Image PDFs Without OCR
  • Scanned documents should have optical character recognition (OCR) applied so the text is searchable and readable by assistive technologies.

Tip: Consider submitting documents that meet both PDF/A (for preservation) and PDF/UA (for accessibility) standards.

• Add Captions to Video Content
  • The TXST supported Yuja Platform provides auto-generated captions and transcriptions, or other tools are available. Be sure to check auto-generated captioning or transcriptions for accuracy.
• Provide Audio Descriptions or Context for Visual Content
  • If videos include important visual information, provide an audio description or written context.
• Include Transcripts for Audio Files
  • Upload a text transcript alongside audio materials.