Support for clients with disabilities

Our commitment to equity

We will do whatever we can to assist you in having equitable access to resources and services available through the Library. We encourage you to contact our staff if you need assistance or advice. UQ Student Services coordinates support for students with disabilities at the university. We encourage students to contact a Diversity, Disability and Inclusion Adviser to discover other ways UQ can support you.

Our spaces

We strive to make our Library spaces as easy to use for all clients. To achieve this our locations have:

• convenient accessible parking
• wheelchair accessible options
• lifts close to entryways
• height-adjustable desks
• computers with assistive software (Computers in the Library)
• dedicated and bookable spaces with assistive technology

View the floor plans for specific accessible features of each Library location.

24/7 spaces

Some of our locations are open 24-hours/7-days during semester study periods. These spaces are monitored by UQ security but are unstaffed during out-of-hour periods. We recommend:

• keeping your UQ Student ID card with you
• protecting your belongings and taking them with you
• keeping safe on campus with the UQ SafeZone app and adding UQ Security as a phone contact.

Safety during an evacuation

• Your Diversity, Disability and Inclusion Adviser from Student Services can organise an evacuation walk-through of your 24-hour location
• 24-hour facilities have refuge areas inside fire stairwells
• Make yourself known to a UQ security guard or Library staff (during business hours) if you need help during an evacuation

Assistive technology rooms

The assistive technology rooms located on Level 1, Central Library (Building #12) contain special software and equipment that is available to students who have been authorised by their Diversity, Disability and Inclusion Adviser.

They include:

• Dragon 15 voice control and dictation software
• Fusion 21 (Jaws and ZoomText) screen reader and magnification software
• height adjustable desks
• dimmable lights
• footrest and backrest
• document magnifier
• adjustable touch screens
• webcam
• Pearl Camera (document scanner and text to voice)

Lockers

We provide lockers that can hold small personal items that you can access for a semester. You may request a locker in the Library each semester. Contact a Diversity, Disability and Inclusion Adviser for details.

We value your feedback on our locations and facilities.

Using Library collections

We purchase and subscribe to online resources such as databases and eBooks. While these materials are generally convenient to access, we are aware that some of these products and their electronic platforms are not easy to use for everyone.

Contact your Librarian for assistance with finding and using resources.

Borrowing, book retrieval, photocopying, and printing

UQ Student Services may provide a participation assistant to help with finding and borrowing physical items. If you do not have a participation assistant, speak to staff at your location for help retrieving items from the shelf or for photocopying or printing assistance. 

We appreciate these requests in advance.

Accessible course readings

We can provide resources in accessible formats for your research or study.

• Students must be registered with Student Services. Make an appointment with a Diversity, Disability and Inclusion Adviser.
• Submit your requests as far ahead as requests can take 5 – 10 working days.

Request accessible resources

Using eBooks

Visit our Using eBooks page to learn how to make eBooks easier to read. Find out more about accessible formats and ways to enlarge text or have content read aloud.

Print item scanning

We scan print items, such as books and articles, into an accessible format where there is no suitable electronic version.

Request a print item scan

HathiTrust eBooks

We can provide eBooks from the HathiTrust Digital Library, offering a collection of millions of digitised titles.

Request HathiTrust eBook

Open resources

• Internet Archive Ebooks and Texts - Access over 15 million freely downloadable books and texts. Many are offered in a choice of formats, including EPUB and DAISY.
• Librivox Free Audiobook Collection - Librivox offers free audiobooks read aloud by volunteers. Books can be listened to or freely downloaded in a range of formats.
• CORE - Access to over 135 million open-access research papers (mostly PDF format) through a simple search.

Participate in client experience sessions

We regularly seek feedback about the accessibility of our web services. Sign up to participate in a client feedback session if you would like to be involved.

Library contacts

Contact our staff for a consultation or for questions at accessibility@library.uq.edu.au

For general enquiries please contact AskUs.