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Meriam
Library / Student Computing Services
August 2004
The following services and enabling technology are
available for students with disabilities.
Assistive Technology
Center
The Assistive Technology Center on the first floor
is reserved for campus users with disabilities. Assistive
technology in this area includes text-to-speech software,
speech recognition software, scanners, Braille printers,
and more. The ATC is located next to the computer
lab and is open during all regular and extended library
hours. Users needing access to the ATC rooms or who
require training or assistance with hardware and software
should contact Disability Support Services.
Basement Access
Scheduled Use (e.g., classes,
employment)
Students, faculty or staff requiring access to the
basement for courses or other scheduled purposes should
be referred to DSS (Disability Support Services, x5959).
DSS staff will verify the nature/extent of disabilities
and issue elevator cards that may be retained until
the end of the semester. DSS will use the same guidelines
for the issuing and return of Meriam Library elevator
cards that apply to other DSS issued building access
cards.
Announcements will be posted and mailed to all faculty
to inform them of the need to alert those with mobility
impairments (faculty, staff, or students) that they
must get elevator cards prior to attending classes
and activities which are regularly scheduled in the
basement.
Off-campus/other users requiring access to the basement
scheduled purposes will present a Library Nonaffiliated
Users Card or current driver’s license or DMV
identity card and a second form of identification
at the Limited Loan counter to check out an elevator
card for one-time use. Off-campus users will also
provide the Library with name, current mailing address
and telephone number. Individuals without this identification
or who choose not to provide personal information
will not be eligible to check out an elevator card.
Off-campus users are subject to the same loan period,
fines and overdues that apply to reserve material.
Unscheduled Use
(e.g., drop-in, intermittent)
On campus students, faculty and staff present a current
university ID card at Limited Loan to check out a elevator
card. The Library does not screen for the nature of
the disability. The card is checked out for three (3)
hours as a reserve item. Overdues and fines accrue as
they do for any reserve item unless special arrangements
are made at checkout for a longer loan period.
After-hours Restrictions
The basement of Meriam Library is not accessible when
the library is closed. Those who need to enter or
exit the basement after closing should contact University
Police (x9911) for assistance. Red phones are available
for this purpose next to the elevator in the basement
and in the Library lobby alongside the pay phones
and TDD.
Basement Access during Elevator
Malfunctions
In the event that the basement access elevator or
the elevator card malfunctions, the elevator card
holder notifies Limited Loan or Circulation that the
elevator or card is not working. Building Management
is contacted. If a Building Management Staff employee
is in the building, they will escort the student down
via the staff elevator to the hallway leading to the
offices/classrooms. The student will need to advise
the Building Management staff member of the time and
location to be met to return them to the first floor.
In the event a Building Management staff person is
not available, the student will need to call University
Police for assistance in exiting the building.
Building Access
The doors to the building are fully accessible. Elevators
reach all levels. All service points are accessible.
Emergency Evacuation
Emergency procedures for evacuating persons with disabilities
are attached as Appendix 1.
Lectures and Workshops
A list of scheduled lectures and workshops about how
to use Library and information resources is available
at the second floor Reference Desk. A list of student
computing sessions is available in the first floor
computer lab. Those requesting accommodation should
contact the Library (x6267) or Student Computing (xHELP)
at least 24 hours in advance and outline the accommodation
request. The Library and Student Computing will arrange
with Disability Support Services to provide the requested
accommodation.
Library Reference
Area (second floor)
All computer stations in the Reference area have Windows
accessibility software installed. Workstation #208
is wheelchair accessible.
Paging of Library
Materials
Users who have identified desired Library materials
but are unable to retrieve them from the stacks should
request assistance at the Reference Desk on the second
floor. The Reference Librarian will page a student
assistant who will retrieve the materials for the
user. When the Reference Desk is closed, users should
request assistance at Circulation on the first floor.
Requests for the paging of large numbers of items
may require the patron to return for pick up.
Photocopying
The Copy Service (Library/2nd floor) offers a copier
on a lowered platform for wheelchair access. To accommodate
other patrons with disabilities, the Copy Center will
make copies. For large jobs the patron may leave the
order (with specific directions on what to copy and
a Campus ID/Wildcat card or other method of payment)
and pick up the material later.
Public Telephones
A TDD device is located on a public telephone in the
main lobby of the Library.
Research and Technical
Assistance
Neither the Library nor Student Computing can provide
extended one-on-one assistance. Those requiring an
assistant should contact Disability Support Services.
Contact People/Liaisons
Meriam Library:
Kathleen Purvis (x6727)
Student Computing:
Ryan Esposto (x5480)
Disability Support Services: Lauri Evans
(x5959)
Table 1
Adaptive Equipment in the
Library
The following table describes the adaptive technology
available in the Library. The table outlines the adaptation
and lists available locations.
| Item |
Use |
Location |
| Jaws |
Windows-based screen
reader. |
Assistive Technology
Center - ATC (MLIB first floor) |
| Open Book (with scanner) |
Scans and reads documents.
Software and hardware for scanning printed material,
enlarging, and translating text to speech |
ATC |
| Kurzweil (with scanner) |
Scans and reads documents.
|
ATC |
| Duxbury/embosser |
Software used with
Braille printer to transcribe computer text into
Braille translator and embosser. |
ATC |
| Sticky-Keys |
Software for one-finger
operation of the computer |
ATC, 1st and 4th
floor computer labs, 2nd floor electronic reference
area. |
| Mouse-Keys |
Software for using
the keyboard arrow keys to control the mouse pointer |
ATC, 1st and 4th
floor computer labs, 2nd floor electronic reference
area. |
| Screen magnification
software |
Software for enlarging
text |
ATC, 1st and 4th
floor computer labs, 2nd floor electronic reference
area. |
| Wheelchair height
computer tables |
Wheelchair access
to computers |
ATC, 1st and 4th
floor computer labs, 2nd floor electronic reference
area. |
Appendix
1
Library Emergency Evacuation
Procedures
In the event of a Library evacuation, the
Library Evacuation Team conducts a sweep of the entire
building advising all patrons that an evacuation is in
progress. All patrons are advised to exit the building
immediately utilizing the closest emergency exit/stairwell.
In the event that a patron on an upper floor is unable
to exit using the stairs, they are encouraged to go to
one of the areas of evacuation and wait for emergency
personnel to assist in their evacuation. However, if the
elevators are operational, the patron can opt to utilize
the elevator providing they do not have to wait for an
elevator car to arrive at their floor. If the button is
pushed, and no car is immediately available, they must
be escorted to an area of evacuation. Someone from the
library will remain with the patron in the area of evacuation
until such time as emergency personnel arrive to assist
them.
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