Library Services for Students with Disabilities

Welcome to the SFU Library!  This page describes the library's services for students with disabilities.

The liaison staff for students with disabilities are
 

For information about other campus services and facilities contact the Centre for Students with Disabilities at 778.782.3112 or 778.782.5381.

1.  Accessibility
2.  Finding library material
3.  Retrieval from library stacks
4.  Alternate format materials
5.  Adaptive technology
6.  Bookable study rooms
7.  Other services
 

1. Accessibility

Use the Where is it? link to see library floorplans.

The entrance doors to the Library are equipped with motion detectors to open automatically. The entrance to the library is on the third floor.

Wheelchair accessible washrooms are available on floors 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7.  Not all the library's washrooms are accessible; those that are accessible are marked with a wheelchair symbol on or above the door.

All elevators in the library are wheelchair accessible.  People with disabilities have boarding priority.

Photocopy machines lowered for easier access are located in the Lam Centre on the first floor and in the centre of the sixth floor. Other machines are located in Reserves on the third floor and at the east end of the third floor.

Selected Library workstations on the 3rd floor of Bennett Library are at accessible and adjustable desks. One is in the Reserves area, and the other, with a large monitor, is just west of the Ask Us Desk in the Information Commons.

In the event of a fire alarm, go to a stairwell landing where a fire warden will direct you.

Where the library building or facilities restrict access, do not hesitate to ask for assistance.

For detailed accessibility information for the library and other buildings at SFU, check out the Centre for Students with Disabilities campus guide to physical access.

 

2. Finding library material

The Library computers include access to the Library catalogue which lists books, government documents, and newspaper and journal titles owned or licensed by SFU Library. Computers are located on floors three to six at tables accessible by wheelchairs. You can also search the catalogue from any terminal or microcomputer connected to the SFU campus network, or on the Internet for off-campus access.

Use the online databases listed on the library's homepage under Find Articles to locate journal articles, book chapters and many other sources on your topic. Check out the guides by subject, discipline and special topic under Library Research Help.

At the beginning of each term, the Library offers drop-in Library research classes. Lib Skills classes are open to all students, and are a good way to get started with library research.

The Information Commons Desk, or Reference Desk, is located on the third floor directly across from the entrance to the Library. Ask at the Reference Desk for a print copy of the Library Floor Plan or other user aids, or for help using the Library catalogue and online databases.

SFU students may phone the Reference Desk at 778.782.5735 to ask whether the Library owns a particular book or journal, or to ask a short factual question. Telephone enquiries are limited to three items.  The same kind of questions can be sent by e-mail to libask@sfu.ca; you can expect a response within one working day.  More in-depth questions can be sent directly to the Reference Librarian assigned to your subject area.  If you need special assistance, please contact Scott Mackenzie at 778.782.5596 or smackena@sfu.ca.

3.  Retrieval from library stacks

The stacks in some parts of the library are high and narrow, and may not be accessible to all users.  If you have difficulty reaching or lifting materials in the bookstacks, or operating the library's self-serve photocopiers, please contact Don Taylor to arrange for retrieval service.

Books that are available in the library will be held for you at the Circulation Desk on the third floor.  Journal articles will be photocopied and held for you to pick up at the library Circulation Desk.

Records can be sent by e-mail from the library catalogue, online databases, by regular e-mail or dropped off at the Interlibrary Loan office.  Requested items will be available for pick-up within one working day.

4. Alternate format materials

If you require course readings in an alternate format, such as sound recordings, large print or electronic text, please see the Learning Disability Specialist and Policy Coordinator, in the Centre for Students with Disabilities.  The library needs to have a request for alternate format materials from the Centre on file for each semester you use this service.  Bring a list of required texts for each course you will be taking in the upcoming semester to the Centre, including the complete bibliographic statement on your course outline (this may include title, author, publisher, edition statement, year of publication and ISBN).

Please notify the Centre for Students with Disabilities as soon as possible when you know what courses you will be taking.  Some texts may already be available in your format, and we will borrow them for the duration of the semester.  However, if we need to send your texts to production, it can sometimes take a number of weeks to get them to you.

Although the library does not collect material in alternate formats, supplementary research material may be requested through Interlibrary Loan.  If the item you require is already available in the format you need, we will borrow it for your research as a regular interlibrary loan request

You can search the online catalogue of the CNIB Digital Library by clicking on the link Search the Library as a Guest.

You may also want to make use of the university's digital audio recording service.  Selected courses on campus have their lectures recorded and those lectures are available online. The lectures can be copied if so desired.

5. Adaptive technology

The SFU Library provides a computer with adaptive technology for priority use by students with disabilities.  The computer is located in the one of the bookable study rooms, 5041. It is equipped with the following hardware and software:  22" monitor, audio headphones, flatbed scanner, JAWS 8.0, ZoomText 9.1 (Magnifier) , Kurzweil 3000.

SFU Library is pleased to have this computer to provide access to library and research materials.  We assume that students using the adaptive technology will already have some familiarity with the programs on it.  If you require training in the use of these programs, please contact the Centre for Students with Disabilities.

The Canada Study Grant (CSG) for assistive technology provides technology support services, (assessment, equipment, training, and technical support) to eligible post-secondary students with disabilities. For more information and application materials for the Canada Study Grant, go to the Assistive Technology BC CSG website.

6. Bookable study rooms

Rooms 5041, 5043, 5051 and 5053 (see floorplan) in WAC Bennett Library may be booked by students with disabilities during Library open hours for a maximum of one 2-hour [5043 and 5053] or 4-hour [5041 and 5051] booking per day, per person. Book a study room online at http://roombookings.lib.sfu.ca/csd/day.php. For more information eligibility, how to book a room, how to access the key, etc, review the Library Study Rooms for Students with Disabilities guide.

Room 5041 is equipped with an adaptive technology workstation, as detailed above.

If you would like to discuss the possibility of a longer room booking, please contact the Centre for Students with Disabilities at csd_office@sfu.ca.

7. Other services

If you have a student aide, the library can issue a card that allows your aide to borrow library materials on your behalf.  This can be arranged at the Circulation Desk.

If there is anything else we can do to help you use the library, please let us know.