Library services for students with a disability

Do you have a special need that requires some assistance?
Are you new to the university? Or have you recently acquired a condition that makes it difficult for you to use the library, like you used to?
What services do we offer?
Where are these facilities located?
Want to discuss further?

Do you have a special need that requires some assistance?

We provide assistance to our students who have special needs, due to physical or psychological reasons, that would prevent access to resources such as books, journals etc.
We also provide facilities such as study spaces and equipment.
Access: all library buildings have wheelchair access and in multi-storey buildings there are lifts to move between floors.

Are you new to the university? Or have you recently acquired a condition that makes it difficult for you to use the library, like you used to

If you are new to the university, you may have already contacted the Disability Liaison office to enquire about the services offered by them.
If you have not already done so, or you have now discovered that you would benefit from special assistance, please visit the homepage of Disability Liaison. There you can make an appointment with staff to have your needs assessed and register you as a student requiring special assistance.
We are unable to provide special assistance to students from other universities.

What services do we offer?

Assistive Software  

  • Talking Computer- JAWS for Windows
  •   
  • Voice Recognition- Dragon Dictate
  •   
  • Visual Learning- Inspiration
  •   
  • Screen Magnification- Magic
  •   
  • Speech, spellchecker, voice etc.- Texthelp Read&Write
  •   
  • Scanning, OCR, PDF conversion, voice and many more- WYNN
  •   
  • Special software for Braille users, scanner, Braille reader, Braille embosser etc.

Special furniture and equipment

  • Ergonomic furniture- Orthotilt desktop, standing frame, kneeling chair, height adjustable tables, ergonomic chairs and slantboards and walker.
  •   
  • CCTV
  •   
  • Halogen lamp, heaters and fans
  •   
  • Scanners 
  •   
  • Power points for personal laptop computer

Help with research and special lending rules

  •   
  • You can make an appointment by contacting the service desk or via email or telephone to discuss the services and facilities.
  •   
  • One to one consultations can be arranged to help you do library research using assistive technology/equipment with library systems and materials.
  •   
  • Under special circumstances we can arrange extended loans and inter-library loans for books.

Where are these facilities located?

Baillieu Library
Ground Floor  
  • There is one “priority reserved” workstation on the south end of the ground floor. This computer does not carry special assistive software but the table is height-adjustable and can accommodate a student on a motor scooter. Students who want to use this workstation can ask staff at the Service Desk for assistance.
First Floor - Percy Baxter Collaborative Learning Centre
  •   
  • Room 101. is currently being upgraded as an assistive technology room and will soon be available for students' use
  •   
  • Room 102.  The key to this room is now held at the Service Desk on the Ground floor.
Second Floor  
  • Room 205 - PC with assistive software, printer and, scanner. The key to this room is now held at the Service Desk on the Ground floor.
  •   
  • Room 206 - PC with assistive software, printer and scanner. The key to this room is now held at the Service Desk on the Ground floor.

ERC Library Room 410 on level 4.

Two workstations- PCs with assistive software and scanner.
Workstation  
  • PC assistive software and special software for Braille users,
  •   
  • Scanner,
  •   
  • Braille reader, Braille embosser etc.
Ergonomic furniture  
  • Orthotilt desktop,
  •   
  • standing frame,
  •   
  • kneeling chair,
  •   
  • height adjusable tables,
  •   
  • ergonomic chairs and power points for a personal laptop computer,
  •   
  • CCTV, heaters and fans.

Want to discuss further?

Please contact the Disability Services Liaison Librarian on 03 8344 0058 or email Jacintha Silva silva@unimelb.edu.au for an appointment. You can drop in at the ERC Library on Wednesdays 2.00pm -5.00pm