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 (below, on this page) if you need assistance or advice.

Start with UQ Student Services

UQ Student Services coordinates support for students with disabilities at the university. Contact a Diversity, Disability and Inclusion Adviser at UQ Student Support to discuss your situation and activate UQ and Library support services.

Access to Library resources

We purchase and subscribe to online resources such as databases and eBooks in preference to print materials. While these materials are generally convenient to access, we are aware that some of these products are not accessible to everyone.

Contact your Librarian for assistance on difficult-to-use resources.

Borrowing, book retrieval, photocopying, and printing

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

We appreciate these requests in advance as staff time is limited.

Using eBooks

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

Scanning and accessible formats for clients with a print disability

We 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 possible, scanning can take 5 – 10 working days

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. More about Ebooks and Texts from Internet Archive.
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. More about Librivox Audiobooks
CORE - Access to over 135 million open-access research papers (mostly PDF format) through a simple search. About CORE.

Website accessibility

The Library website aims to conform to the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 to Level AA. You can help us fix any accessibility problems on our site by reporting them to webmaster@library.uq.edu.au.

See our web browser compatibility statement for more information.

Our facilities

are wheelchair accessible
include lifts
include height-adjustable desks
Library computers have the Dyslexie font installed (select it in applications like MS Word or your web browser)

Height adjustable desk. — All locations have height adjustable desks (including one in each training room). People with mobility impairment have priority of use. Desks have signage for easy identification.

View floor plans for accessible features of our Library locations.

Temporary adjustments to access and services
Central Library and the Duhig Tower

As per Central Library and Duhig Tower update (30 October), access to Central Library and the Duhig Tower is via their level two entries. Level one is closed for repairs until early 2021.

Accessible pathways with ramp access

Pathways between Central Library and the Duhig Tower include:

Through the Michie Building: from Central Library, go along the path in front of the Forgan Smith Building, through Michie Building via the ramp, and back along the Great Court to the Duhig Tower. This path is longer but has less sloped ground.
Using the ramp between Central and Duhig go through Duhig Place, Campell Place, and into the Great Court to the Duhig Tower.

Assistive technology rooms

Assistive technology rooms contain special software and equipment and are available to students authorised by their Diversity, Disability and Inclusion Adviser. The rooms have moved to level four of the Duhig Tower. Take the lift from level two of the Duhig Tower.

Book an assistive technology room:

02-D402 Duhig Tower (was 12-N017A Central Library)
02-D405 Duhig Tower (was 12-N107B Central Library)
02-D406 Duhig Tower (was 12-N107C Central Library)

Book returns

Book returns are temporarily located on level three of the Central Library. Take the lift from level two.

Contact us for assistance

Please contact us if you require assistance, or have any feedback, related to these temporary changes.

Lockers

You may request a locker in the Library each semester. Contact a Diversity, Disability and Inclusion Adviser for details.

24/7 spaces

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

make sure you have your UQ Student ID card with you
always protect your belongings and take them with you
Keep 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 with emergency red phones that connect directly to UQ security
make yourself known to a UQ security guard or Library staff if you need help during an evacuation

We value your feedback on our locations and facilities.

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.