Services for Disabled and Dyslexic Users

The Library provides ongoing support to users who are disabled, dyslexic or have medical conditions which may affect their access to services and resources.

If you need any help and assistance when using the Library, any member of library staff will be able to help you.

In addition, Fiona Rhodes has special responsibility for providing one-to-one help and training for disabled and dyslexic users in the Library. She can provide a personal tour of the Library and discuss potential problems and the most appropriate solution for you.

Find out more about the specialised resources and support available:

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  • One to One Support

    Fiona Rhodes is your first point of contact for One to One support. She will work with you to address any concerns you may have about accessing the Library building, services or resources. Please email Fiona for further details and to make an initial appointment. Fiona can also offer appointments by WebEx.

    One to One support might include:

    • Tutorials on using OneSearch and databases
    • Requesting on shelf books through OneSearch for collection later
    • Looking for books with you on OneSearch and the shelf
    • Arranging for a friend or assistant to borrow items on your behalf
    • Extending the loan period of books
    • Managing your Library Account
    • Copying and scanning texts if you are unable to use the self-service facilities
    • Obtaining books in alternative formats
    • Copying on to coloured paper

    If you have any other ideas of how we can help you just contact Fiona.

  • Dyslexic users

    Students with Dyslexia or a Specific learning difficulty can find the Library a difficult place to use but we are here to help you.

    Fiona Rhodes is your first point of contact for One to One support. She will work with you to address any concerns you may have about accessing the Library building, services or resources. Please email Fiona for further details and to make an initial appointment. Fiona can also offer appointments by WebEx.

    The Library can help you by:

    • Finding and retrieving books from the shelves for you (see the details of our Requesting Books service above)
    • Extending the loan periods of your books
    • Managing your Library account
    • Giving you an individual tour of the Library and its facilities, eg showing you your subject area, where the printers are, how to top up your print budget, etc
    • Tutorial on using OneSearch, our search engine for books and articles
  • Study Support Rooms

    You can book rooms in advance to work with your Study Support Tutor or Faculty Student Learning Advisor.

    The two rooms (A180 and A181) are located on A Floor of the Library. You can book them through the following link.

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    The rooms are popular, especially during term time. In order to ensure fair access for all, the following limits are in place:

    • Bookable by: Students only, with a current Lancaster email address

    • Bookable for: 2 hours per day, 6 hours per week

    • Booking ahead: Up to 14 weeks in advance

    When you have booked a room you will be sent a confirmation email. Please keep this as a reminder of your booking. 

  • Requesting Books

    Disabled or Dyslexic students are able to request books from our shelves for collection. To register for this service please contact Fiona Rhodes.

    Once you are registered for the service, books may be requested for collection via OneSearch.

    How do I register to request books for collection via OneSearch?

    The books will be kept on the Books For Collections shelves which are near the self-service points on A Floor. Books will be kept for you for 7 days. When you collect the book they will need to be issued via self-service. Please ask at the Information Point if you require any assistance at the self-service point. 

    If this arrangement does not meet your needs please contact Fiona Rhodes to discuss alternatives.

  • Assistive software and equipment

    All PCs in the Library have access to Text Help Read and Write gold using AppsAnywhere:

    • Study support Room 181 has a PC with screen reading software: JAWS 10 and a book scanner with optical character recognition (OCR)
    • Study Support Room 180 has a Humanware Prodigi desk top which will scan, enlarge and read out text. A Prodigi user guide is available.
    • Height Adjustable tables can be found throughout the Library. If you require assistance adjusting the table please ask a member of staff

    For further information about the assistive equipment please contact Fiona Rhodes.

    The following assistive materials are also available from the Information Point:

    • Coloured overlays which can help with reading
    • Wrist rests to help you use your PC comfortably
    • Magnification sheets to help read text
    • Book rests to hold your book at a convenient angle

    For further help see the Accessibility Features available in Adobe Reader (external link).

  • Accessibility of self-service machines

    Self-service issue machines

    You can issue, return and renew items at the self-service machines on A and B Floor. You can also pay fines there.

    One of the self-service machines on A Floor is at a lower height.

    Laptop loans

    You can borrow laptops for up to 3 hours at a time from the self-service laptop dispensers on A Floor and in the Learning Zone.

    The laptop dispenser in the Learning Zone has the choice of borrowing from a lower-level drawer.