Intro to JW Library

"JW Library is an official app produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses. It includes multiple Bible translations, as well as books and brochures for Bible study."--quoted from jw.org.

All directions provided on this site are for screenreader users unless otherwise specified. My directions for using the JW Library app are specifically for use with the VoiceOver screenreader on iOS devices made by Apple. If you are not a VoiceOver user you will have much more success getting help from the official site. It can either be accessed using the Help button at the bottom of the Home tab in JW Library, or at the below link. JW Library Help on jw.org

JW Library is a very useful and accessible app, but its very visual layout, plethora of features, and some interesting quirks, mean that it isn't the easiest app to learn to use with a screenreader. I hope these guides will help you to quickly learn to use many of its awesome features. I will also explain how to use both simple and advanced Voiceover techniques to become as efficient as possible at navigating the user interface.

If you are familiar with JW library but want a few VoiceOver specific tips for navigating it more efficiently visit this page with Navigation Tips.

Do not consider this official documentation. I am just one blind experienced VoiceOver user who is trying to share what I've learned about using JW library to help my fellow brothers and sisters.

If you have any trouble using JW Library with a screenreader or screen magnification please ask one of the elders in your local congregation to provide you with the phone number for the blind help desk at the world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses.

How to use these guides

There are multiple pages of guides on different sections and features of JW Library on this website. The navigation links at the top of each page can be used to jump to a different section. All the guides about JW library will be beneath the section title "JW Library with VoiceOver for iOS", which is not itself a link.

The search box at the top of the page can also be used to try to find specific words that might be used to describe a feature you want to know more about. The search will find results on any page of my site, wether or not it is in the JW Library section.

There will be Previous and Next links at the bottom of each page to take you to the previous or next page.

Each page will have headings to mark different sections, so please use your screenreader headings navigation feature to skip forward or back through the sections you are interested in, and to skip past what you already know about, or aren't interested in.

Heading navigation with VoiceOver:

Put 2 fingers on the screen and turn them as if you were turning a dial on the screen. It doesn't matter which direction you turn, or which fingers you use.

This will turn the Voiceover rotor to change the function of 1 finger flick up or down. VoiceOver will make a little ratcheting kind of sound and say the currently selected setting each time you twist your fingers correctly.

When VoiceOver says, "Headings," stop turning.

Now swipe down with 1 finger to move to the next heading. Swipe up with 1 finger to go to the previous heading. VoiceOver will say, "VoiceOver heading navigation," when you flick up with 1 finger from this spot on this page.

When using VoiceOver with a keyboard on any Apple product: first press the left and right arrow at the same time. This toggles quick-nav. If quick-nav is on, then pressing H should move forward through headings. Shift with H should move backward by heading. You can also press the numbers 1 through 6 to move to any heading at that level. Add Shift to go to the previous heading at that level.

If quick-nav refuses to be turned on, then it will be necessary to press Control+Option+Command+H to move forward by heading. Again, adding Shift will move backward. Moving by heading level is not possible when quick-nav is off.

Visit one of the following links if you need more instructions on using VoiceOver. Learn VoiceOver gestures on iPhone VoiceOver User Guide for macOS

Windows Screenreader Heading Navigation

Whether you are using Narrator, NVDA, or JAWS in any browser on Windows heading navigation should work pretty much the same. Press the letter h to move to the next heading. Press H with the shift key to move backward to previous headings.

You can also press the numbers 1 through 6 to move to any heading at that level. Add Shift to go to the previous heading at that level.