Services for Persons with Disabilities
General information | Locating assistive technology | Assistive workstation | Assistive technology room | Additional equipment | Scheduling an AT tutorial | Research and information services | Ask a librarian | Retrieval of items | Copy services | Visunet Canada
General information about services
In an effort to meet the needs of all library users, Memorial University Libraries make specific effort to provide unique services for individuals having print or physical disabilities. Please read on for more information.
Locating assistive technology
Assistive technology (AT) is located on the main floor of the Queen Elizabeth II Library. All computers offering AT require a Labnet account which can be obtained via the Computing Support Desk. Please note that guest accounts are available.
Assistive workstation
An assistive workstation is located in the classroom on the main floor of the Queen Elizabeth II Library and is available when the lab is not in use.
- A height adjustable desk electronically adjusts to meet your needs.
- Ergonomic chairs are also available to enhance your library experience and add comfort to your time spent here.
- In addition to a closed circuit television (CCTV), various screen reading, magnification, and voice dictation software are available. Click on Assistive Technology for a detailed up to date list of available assistive software.
Assistive technology room
The Assistive Technology Room is located in room L-2001 (which is in the back hallway near the Reading Room).
- The room can be used by any resident of the province having print or physical disabilities.
- Different types of equipment are available in the AT Room including: a computer, screen reading and magnification software, an optical scanner, a closed circuit television (CCTV), as well as voice dictation software.
- To access the room you will need to visit the Circulation Desk which is located on the main floor of the QEII Library. There, you can sign in and obtain a key for the room. You can also book the Room in advance by filling out the Assistive Technology Room Bookings form.
- If you need the room to write a test or exam be sure to request the room as soon as the date is known. All other use of the equipment is on a first come, first served basis. Note that users may have to share the room.
Aditional equipment
The below items can be requested from the Reserve Desk in the Queen Elizabeth II Library.
- Half Keyboard: Users are able to access standard keyboard functions through the use of one hand. As the half keyboard also takes up less space than a traditional keyboard which is an added bonus.
- Switch: Acting as a mouse alternative, a switch facilitates the basic functions of a mouse, such as the right and left click.
- Victor Classic: This small audio player plays books in Daisy format. It enhances the reading experience as it allows you to add bookmarks, voice notes, and move forward through chapters, therefore enhancing the reading experience.
- Platronics Head Set: This is particularly useful for using voice dictation and screen reading software.
- Headphones.
- Also note that there is a payphone TTY available in the porch area of the Queen Elizabeth II Library.
Scheduling an AT tutorial
If you use the Queen Elizabeth II Library the Computing Support Desk now offers individual assistive technology tutorials. To schedule a tutorial you can:- Visit the Computing Support Desk in person
- Email commonsat@mun.ca
- Phone the Computing Support Desk at (709) 864-6159
Research and information services
At all Memorial University Libraries, the following research services are just a few of the services provided to our users:
- Guidance regarding how to make your topic 'searchable'.
- Assistance searching for items in the library catalogue.
- Assistance searching for items via the article indexes.
- Requesting items from another Memorial University Library through InterCampus loan.
- Ordering items unavailable at Memorial University Libraries via Document delivery.
- We also can work with you to locate an item in an alternative format. If you want an alternative format, we need you to be in touch with your branch library as soon as possible. While we cannot guarantee that we will find an alternative format, the chances are enhanced if you notify us as soon as you can. To submit a request, please complete the Alternate Format Request Form.
Ask a librarian
All Memorial University Libraries have librarians available to assist you with your research. You can contact a librarian in a variety of ways:
- Information Desk
- Instant Messaging
- By phone/one-on-one research session: to make an appointment or receive assistance directly over the phone, please call your branch library
- QEII Library: (709) 864-7427
- Health Sciences Library: (709)777- 6672
- Dr. C.R. Barrett Library (Marine Institute): (709) 778-0615
- Ferriss Hodgett Library (Grenfell College): (709) 637-6236
- Curriculum Materials Centre: (709) 864-2188
- Centre for Newfoundland Studies: (709) 864-7475 or (709) 864-7476
Retrieval of items
At all Memorial University Libraries, the following retrieval services are provided to individuals having print or physical disabilities:
- Retrieval of books from the bookstacks. We are happy to aid you in retrieving items of this sort. Please note that if for some reason the books cannot be retrieved immediately, somebody will have them available for you at a later time. Your books will be held at the Circulation Desk.
- Retrieval of journals from Periodicals Stacks. If the journals cannot be retrieved immediately, you will be asked to come back. The journals will be held for you. Be sure to know the titles, volumes, numbers, and pages of the journals you are looking for.
Copy services
If you are registered with the Glenn Roy Blundon Centre for Students With Disabilities, you are entitled to special photocopying rates at the Queen Elizabeth II Library. They include:
- $0.05 per page for 8 1/2 x 11 (letter size), 8 1/2 x 14 (legal size) and 11 x 17 copies.
- $0.10 per page for film to paper and fiche to paper copies. This service is available at Copy Services 9am to 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday.
- If you have any questions please contact Copy Services at 864-7469 or the Blundon Centre at 864-2156 or blundon@mun.ca.
Visnuet Canada
Memorial University Libraries is proud to be a Visunet Canada partner. Visunet Canada, offered by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind Library, offers a wide variety of services to visually impaired and print disabled persons, including:
- VisuTEXT gives patrons access to electronic books and electronic braille files in both English and in French. Patrons can also link directly to Web sites that have been selected for the accessibility, as well as their authoritative and topical content. Clients also can customize their own personal pages to easily access the types of information they want.
- VisuCAT is the CNIB Library's online book catalogue. Patrons can search the catalogue for books in the Library that appeal to them and then place an online request for that book.
- VisuNEWS allows patrons to access major French and English Canadian newspapers
- To be eligible for Visunet Canada services, you must be a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador, and print disabled because of blindness, visual impairment, physical disability and/or learning disability in accordance with the definition provided for "perceptual disability" in Section 32. (1) of the Canadian Copyright Act.
- To find out more about Visunet Canada, or to register, call (709) 864-7427.
September 9, 2011
Shannon Gordon
