Library Accessibility Services

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Students studying the the library

About Library Accessibility Services

Welcome to Library Accessibility Services. Located in the Adaptive Technology Centre, Stauffer Library, Queen’s Library Accessibility Services offers library materials in alternate format, training on adaptive technology, mediated research help, and more. We primarily serve students and staff registered with Queen's Student Accessibility Services (QSAS).

Please note that due to the Stauffer Library Ground Floor Renovation, the Adaptive Technology Centre and its services are temporarily located on the ground floor of Douglas Library. Learn more about the temporary location. 

Adaptive Technology Centre

Adaptive Technology Help Guide

Alternate Format

Students may request course textbooks, readings and library materials in alternate format if you are registered with Queen's Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) and your advisor has made a referral because of a documented print disability for alternate format as an accommodation. This service is coordinated by the Senior Assistant, who is our Alternate Format Specialist.

Requests can be made at any point in the semester, but it is recommended that you contact the Alternate Format Specialist 4-6 weeks before the semester in which the alternate format is required. Staff are committed to providing students with their preferred format in a timely manner; however, we cannot guarantee that students will receive alternate format materials within the timelines required for their courses because of external factors beyond our control.

Students with a print disability referred from Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) may request course materials in alternate format. Our staff works with students, faculty, and the Campus Bookstore to locate textbooks and reading materials for each course. The required materials can be digitized, transcribed, or requested from publishers and digital text repositories in PDF, Microsoft Word, large print, audio, e-Pub, or braille.

Student Responsibilities

Students with a print disability referred from Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) for alternate format must:

  • Provide course selections (course codes, titles, section numbers, and preferred text formats) to staff as soon as registration opens. 
  • Promptly notify staff of changes in course selections that will impact alternate format text requirements (e.g., dropping/adding courses), or if your required readings change.
  • Provide proof of purchase for course texts/readers.
  • Sign E-File Statement Agreements and following any publisher and copyright restrictions on alternate format materials (e.g. agree not to reproduce or redistribute the material).

Patrons with a print disability may request print library materials in alternate format. Students with a print disability who wish to digitize their own materials may do so at the scanners provided for patron use in the Adaptive Technology Centre, in accordance with section 32 of the Canadian Copyright Act.

Library Accessibility Services staff can provide alternate formats of course and library materials by acquiring materials from publishers and databases or by creating the materials in-house. There are repositories available for patrons with print disabilities to discover alternate formats of library materials independently. 

Accessible Content E-Portal (ACE)

  • Accessible Content E-Portal (ACE) is a repository of accessible format texts available to users with print disabilities at participating Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) institutions. 
  • The repository is a good resource for print library material that has already been digitized.
  • Alternate formats can include PDF, DAISY, TXT and ePUB.
  • Please provide staff with as much information as possible about the book you are requesting.
  • A unique token (password) is required to use the ACE repository. Tokens are available by emailing library.atc@queensu.ca.  Tokens are valid for four academic years or for your time at Queen’s, whichever comes first.

HathiTrust

Queen’s University Library is a member of HathiTrust. Faculty, students, and staff have access to a digital archive of over 3 million items from research libraries around the world. Queen's Library is able to provide access to most items in the HathiTrust Digital Library to users who have a print disability via the HathiTrust Accessible Text Request Service. If you would like to request a HathiTrust item, please email us at library.atc@queensu.ca. We will place a request on your behalf.
 

Other Services

Library Accessibility Services also offers access to the Adaptive Technology Centre, book retrieval and extended loans, and confidential feedback opportunities.

Located in Stauffer Library, the Adaptive Technology Centre (ATC) provides a wide range of services, assistive technologies, and a quiet study environment for students with accessibility needs. Use of the Adaptive Technology Centre study space is for students registered with Queen's Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) or with the Adaptive Technology Centre.

Discover the Adaptive Technology Centre

For those who require assistance, Library Accessibility Services staff or circulation staff will retrieve library materials from the library shelves upon request. Students must supply a list of titles with call numbers. Depending on timing and staff availability, retrieval may be immediate, or take up to 24 hours. There are several options for renewing books, both online and in person. Requests for extended borrowing periods for books or reserve items can be made by emailing library.atc@queensu.ca

Many of the videos in our video collections are captioned with transcripts or can be captioned upon request. Video captioning is only available for library video collections, including library licensed streaming services. Video captioning may require substantial preparation time. Please submit your requests in advance of the semester to library.atc@queensu.ca

Explore captioned materials in the library catalogue (Omni) 

 

The library recognizes that feedback is critical to the process of identifying and removing barriers to participation as well as improving how we deliver our services and provide facilities to persons with disabilities. Please email us at library.atc@queensu.ca with any feedback. Thank you for taking the time to let us know how we are doing. Your feedback helps us to better identify barriers to accessibility.

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