Library Services to Students with Disabilities

Introduction

The Information Division of the University of Melbourne aims to provide the assistance necessary to ensure that students with either a temporary or permanent disability have equitable access to library resources. All students with disabilities requiring special services MUST be registered with the Disability Liaison Unit of the University.

New students who feel they may experience some difficulty in using the library's facilities are strongly advised to contact the relevant staff member responsible for services to disabled students as early in the year as possible. Orientation tours and consultations can be arranged so that the individual needs of the students are catered to.

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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

Assistive Technology Rooms

Assistive Technology Rooms in Baillieu Library are designed to assist student with disabilities in literature searching, writing up assignments and completing associated tasks that cannot be performed at a standard computer available in the library.
In addition to above software these rooms also have special equipment.

Baillieu Library - Ground Floor

• Room 5 - PC with assistive software, heater, fan and telephone and CCTV.
• Room 6 - Pc with assistive software, heater and and fan.
• Room 7 - PC with DOS, special software for Braille users, scanner, Braille embosser etc.
• Room 3 - standard computer (no assistive software)

Computers in Rooms 5 and 6 on the Ground Floor are connected to the networked Unicard printer at the South end of the Ground Floor.

Baillieu First Floor - Percy Baxter Collaborative Learning Centre

• Assistive Technology Room 101. The key to this room is now held at the Information Desk on the Ground floor.

Baillieu Library - Second Floor

• Room 304 - PC with assistive software, printer and Halogen lamp.
  
• Room 305 - PC with assistive software, printer and scanner.

Fans and heaters are available in these rooms on request.

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Study Rooms

Baillieu - Ground Floor

• Room 1 - Ergonomic table with slant board, ergonomic chairs and power point for a personal laptop computer.

• Room 2 - Ergonomic table , ergonomic chairs and power point for a personal laptop computer.

• Room 3 - Height adjustable table, standard computer, ergonomic chairs and power point for a personal laptop computer.

• Room 4 - Orthotilt desktop standing frame and a kneeling chair. Ergonomic table, ergonomic chair and power point for a personal laptop computer.

Baillieu - Second Floor

• Rooms 306, 307, 308 and 309 are currently available to DLU approved students under special circumstances.

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Reference Service and Consultations

Staff at the Information Desks will provide assistance to users requiring general help with locating materials and research. Students with special needs should contact the relevant library staff member to make an appointment for special consultations. Any student wanting to know more about assistive technology software and/or rooms with special facilities please ring ext. 40058 or send an email for an apppointment.

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Staff Contacts

Discussion of Specific Library Needs

The library encourages students with disabilities who are likely to require assistance, to contact the relevant staff member as soon as possible in the academic year. 
Students requiring any equipment or services which are not already provided should discuss their special needs with the staff concerned, as it may be possible to make special arrangements. 
If you require more information about other services and facilities provided by the University of Melbourne, contact the Disability Liaison Office on  8344 7068 or TTY 8344 6626.  Students can find out further information about Library services by calling in at the library information desk or telephoning the appropriate staff contact listed below:
 

Staff Contacts

Arts & Life Sciences: Baillieu Library, Brownless Biomedical Library

Jacintha Silva 8344 0058
Information Desk 8344 0444
silva@unimelb.edu.au

Branch libraries: Please contact the Information Desks

Information Desk (Library Inquiries) 8344 0444

Legal Resources Centre (Law Library)

Elisa Quatrocelli 8344 7311
Information Desk 8344 6177
e.quatrocelli@unimelb.edu.au

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Photocopying and Book Collection

Students who are mobility impaired can request assistance from staff at Information Desk in retrieving a few items from shelves. However, those wanting a list of books gathered will need to discuss the options available by contacting the liaison librarian.

At the initial interview your requirements such as alternative format material and long term loans will be discussed and settled. Undergraduate students wanting long term loans of recommended items on Reserve, qualify for inter-library loans of such items from outside libraries. The university library and the DLU is working together to provide access to study materials for students with disabilities.

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Building Access and other facilities

Most University of Melbourne libraries have access for people using wheelchairs. Students will require staff assistance to move between floors in the Giblin Economics Library. Campus map showing library locations, see also Melway map 471. The Parkville veterinary library is a part of the Veterinary Precinct at the corner of Park Drive and Flemington Road and access is now possible via the ramp from the rear car park adjacent to the University High School. Melway Reference 2A K6.

Getting to the ERC Library

The building layout and access around the ERC is now changed due to building work currently underway. Although at present it is an acive building site, entry to some floors of the building is still available. Collections, services and facilities from some levels have been relocated to other libraries or floors. For details re collections and acess to former ERC, please visit Eastern Learning Hub construction in the ERC Library . After the redevelopment work ERC will become a part of the Eastern Learning Hub. More information on development of the Eastern Learning Hub .

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Getting to the Giblin Economics and Commerce Library.

The Giblin Economics and Commerce Library is located on the third floor of the Economics and Commerce Building.

The Giblin Library Loans and Information Desks are staffed Monday to Friday between 9-5pm. The Information Desk is also open on Wednesday until 7pm during semester and the mid-year recess.

For access outside of these hours, see the Loans Desk staff at the Baillieu Library.

The Economics library collection is accessible either via the ground floor lifts of the Economics and Commerce building or during the normal opening hours of the Baillieu Library from the third floor of the Baillieu.

There is a connecting ramp between the two libraries on the third floor of the Baillieu Library.

The Economics and Commerce Library has a lower floor (Second Floor) that is accessible via a lift from within this library or via stairs. If you wish to use the lift, a key is available from the loans desk or Baillieu check-in room and staff can accompany students down to this floor if required.

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Some Useful Web Sites

Disability Services Division of the Department of Human Services, State Government of Victoria

Disability Support and Services in Australia

Copying material for disabled

Vision Australia Foundation

ADCET Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and training

The Benetech Initiative is a non-profit:Home site for the company responsible for the scanning software in the Talking Computer Room.

Scope (Vic) is a non-profit organisation providing statewide services to over 3,500 children and adults with physical and multiple disabilities

Library of Congress: National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.  NLS administers a free library program of braille and recorded materials circulated to eligible borrowers through a network of cooperating libraries in the United States.  The site includes a link to their catalogue of resources in Braille and audio.  It also includes informtion on copyright, web access and assistive technology.

American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.  The aim of the American Printing House for the Blind is to promote the independence of blind and visually impaired persons by providing special media, tools, and materials needed for education and life. Includes a link to Louis, their catalogue of accessible resources.

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic Located in the United States, this is a non profit organisation providing a catalogue of material and equipment designed to support the education and professional goals of people with print disabilities. Loans only available to those registered with the organisation.