Disability services

We can help you

We are committed to ensuring that all students and staff can make the best possible use of our services and collections.

Here we describe the facilities and services that are available at the main university libraries for people who have a disability or a specific learning difficulty.

  • JB Morrell Library (JBM)
  • Raymond Burton Library (RBL)
  • Harry Fairhurst Building (HF)
  • Borthwick Institute for Archives (Borthwick)
  • The King's Manor Library (KML)

If you are visiting another library please contact staff there to discuss your needs.

We can also provide help more tailored to your needs in partnership with Disability Services. Please contact them first to find out how we can help you.

[Back to the top]

Buildings

The JB Morrell Library is the main library of the University and is accessible to all users. The Raymond Burton Library, Harry Fairhurst Building and the Borthwick Institute for Archives are adjacent to the JB Morrell Library and share an entrance. There are internal lifts to all floors.

There are disabled toilets on the ground floor of the JB Morrell Library, Harry Fairhurst Building and the Raymond Burton Library.

Accessible Study Room

Accessible Study rooms are available on the first and second floor of the J.B. Morrell Library. These rooms are available for all to use, however priority will be given to those with disabilities. If you need to book an Accessible Study Room please contact infodir-accessibility@lists.york.ac.uk Please note that no eating or drinking, except bottled water, is permitted in the Accessible Study Rooms.

Parking

There are disabled parking bays next to the Security Centre on Campus Central car park with a lift which gives access to Vanbrugh bridge and to the main entrance of the Library.

The King's Manor Library

The King's Manor Library is located in the City Centre in Exhibition Square. Unfortunately it is in an historic listed building and is not readily accessible to people with mobility impairments. The entrance is on the first floor of the main building, and the two floors of the Library are connected by a narrow spiral staircase.

Library staff can help you get access to the ground floor of the Library and can collect material for you. Please contact the staff there to discuss your needs.

[Back to the top]

Fetching, collecting and borrowing books

Book shelves may not be easily accessible to people with visual and mobility impairments.

If you have difficulty getting the books and other materials you need, Library staff will be happy to fetch them for you (if they haven't been borrowed by someone else) and you can collect them from Lending Services at your convenience during our opening hours. Please help us by giving at least 24 hours notice.

Please remember that there are fewer staff on duty in the evenings and at weekends and during term time the libraries can be busy. Staff may not be able to help you straight away at these times.

For security reasons, normally items can only be issued to a valid University or Library card which carries the photograph and/or name of the bearer. However, if your disability prevents you coming to the Library easily, we can make arrangements for books to be collected and borrowed by a friend or colleague.

If you would like to nominate someone to borrow books on your behalf, please contact Lending Services in the JB Morrell Library.

[Back to the top]

Key Texts and 24 hour loans

Books and photocopies in the JB Morrell Library Key Texts area, and items with a 24 hour loans status, can only be borrowed for short set periods as they are in great demand by large numbers of students. Students who have completed a Library form with Disability Services for a longer loan period will automatically get double the loan period when borrowing either Key Texts or 24 hour loans.

King's Manor Library will also issue Key Texts for double the loan period, you should ask for them at their Lending Services desk.

[Back to the top]

Renewals and Requests

You can renew most loans (except items from Key Texts and 24 hour loans) yourself via My Library Account on the Library Catalogue. You are also welcome to telephone Lending Services on (01904 32) 3873 and we will renew items for you.

Requests for items on loan are normally made by borrowers using the Request option on the Library Catalogue. If you are unable to place requests in this way please ask at Lending Services for assistance.

All books which you borrow may be requested if they are required by another reader, and their date for return may be brought forward. If this happens and you have difficulty in returning them by the new date, please telephone or email the JB Morrell Library or the King's Manor Library Lending Services to let them know.

[Back to the top]

IT Services

IT Services aim to offer facilities suitable to all users, taking into account the specific needs of users with disabilities. Further information is available here. If you require any help or advice, please contact the IT Support Office.

[Back to the top]

Photocopying, Printing and Scanning

Claiming expenses for photocopying and printing

You may top up your printing account online and you will be emailed a receipt. Alternatively if you top-up your printing account using one of the Cash Kiosks, in either the JB Morrell Library or the Harry Fairhurst Building, a receipt will be printed.

There is also a staffed copying service available for students unable to use the self-service facilities, e.g. if help with enlargements or coloured paper is required. Students should either complete a photocopying request form or contact infodir-accessibility@lists.york.ac.uk to ask for permission to request items online.

Students using the staffed copying service will either pay on collection or, if the University Disability Service has advised us, we will send a bill of outstanding copying charges at the end of each term.

Further information about funding may be found via the University's Disability Funding

[Back to the top]

Equipment

We provide a range of equipment and software to help you, including:

  • CCTV text enlarger in the Compact Store corridor in the JB Morrell Library
  • PCs with enlarged font and colours which help with visual disabilities in each cluster of Library Catalogue PCs
  • A Library Catalogue PC for people with sensitivity to screen flicker on the ground floor of the JBM
  • Library Catalogue PC desks for wheelchair users on each floor of the JB Morrell Library
  • Zoomtext and Supernova are available on the 2 PCs near the entrances and the IT Studies in the Library.
  • Hearing loops:
    • Enquiry and Reception desks in the JB Morrell Library
    • Reception and Lifelong Learning Centre in the Borthwick Institute for Archives
  • Braille room and directory signs on the ground floor of the JB Morrell Library and in the Raymond Burton Library and Borthwick Institute for Archives
  • Adjustable desks and a variety of microform readers, including large magnification, in the Borthwick microform room
  • Braille printer in the Computer Science Department, at Heslington East.

[Back to the top]

Emergency procedures

Please make sure that you are familiar with the emergency exits in the library you are visiting.

There are wheelchair refuges with intercom systems on each floor of the JB Morrell Library, Raymond Burton Library, Harry Fairhurst Building and Borthwick Institute for Archives. At the King's Manor Library please ask staff for help if you need it.

[Back to the top]

Who to contact if you need more help

For help with...