Information ServicesUniversity Library

Library services to students with disabilities

Information Services at 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.

Assistive software

Assistive technology rooms

Assistive Technology Rooms in the 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 the above software these rooms also have the following special equipment.

Baillieu Library - ground floor

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

Baillieu Library - second floor

Fans and heaters are available in these rooms on request.

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Study rooms

Baillieu - ground floor

Baillieu - second floor

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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

Library staff encourage 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.

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 Desk

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 are 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 at the Institute of Land and Food Resources Library (Parkville) and the Engineering Library, and to move between floors in the Giblin Economics Library. Campus map showing library locations - see also Melway map 471.

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 Resource Centre. More information on development of the Eastern Resource Centre.

Getting to the Giblin Economics & 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.

Getting to the Engineering Library

The collection from the Engineering Library is now temporarily located in a number of buildings. In the future, Engineering core collections and services will be relocated to the Eastern Learning Hub (now the Education Resource Centre). High use textbooks and journals are now in the Old Quad building located between the Student Union and south lawn, building 150, map ref G15 on this campus map [PDF 375kb 1 page]. If you want help with identifying and retireving materials from these locations, please speak to a staff member at any branch library that you generally use.

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Useful web sites

Disability Services Division of the Department of Human Services, State Government of Victoria
 
Vision Australia Foundation
 
The Benetech Initiative
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
Disability Support and Services in Australia
 
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.
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