Michigan State University Libraries

Services for Persons with Disabilities

The MSU Libraries has a long tradition of working with persons with disabilities to ensure their effective use of the Library and its resources. Alterations to make the building more accessible, the creation of the Assistive Technology Center, and a variety of assistance programs embody this tradition of service. The Access Team, a group of Libraries' staff from various units, work together to provide ongoing services to persons with disabilities. They work closely with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) at MSU to coordinate services where possible. This document outlines established services and provides contact information.

Many services are available on-demand. However, assistance requiring more than 10 minutes of a staff member's time, in any department, will require an appointment. If you have a unique situation that requires assistance that is not currently offered, please contact us at atc@mail.lib.msu.edu and we will consider other options.

CIRCULATION SERVICES (Lobby)

Phone 355-2333

In order to check out any materials, users must first register at the main Circulation Desk on the 1st floor Lobby or at a branch library.

Some specialized services for persons with disabilities that are available with advance arrangements at the Main Library Circulation Desk include the placing of holds on materials checked out by other users, extended loan periods, renewal of materials by phone, and authorization of runners/readers to check out library material in the handicapper's name (see Policy & Procedure Statement 1.4.2). Circulation staff, if available, will retrieve up to 5 items from the stacks on demand. Long lists of material that need to be retrieved must be arranged through the Access Team at atc@mail.lib.msu.edu. It does take the staff some time to pull materials, so please be selective in the materials you request.

In the Main Library, lockers may be checked out by MSU-affiliated borrowers for one semester for storage of belongings and checked out library materials. Hearing impaired patrons can call the Main Library's TTY number (353-9034) for renewals, extended searches and other Circulation requests.

REFERENCE SERVICES

Reference help, including assistance with using reference books and MAGIC, is available at the Main Library Reference Desk (1-East). Extensive assistance may require a scheduled appointment, which can be arranged by contacting the Access Team.

PHOTOCOPY SERVICES

Assistance with self-service photocopying is available as staffing allows at the Library Copy Center (on 2-West) at the current price. Without extra charge, material can be left at the Copy Center for the staff to copy.

MAP LIBRARY

The Map Library, located on 3-West, has a collection of several dozen tactile maps--primarily state maps and world continents. For assistance, ask at the Map Library Desk.

IINTERLIBRARY LOAN/DOCUMENT DELIVERY

For MSU students, staff, and faculty, the MSU Libraries can request from other institutions materials not owned by MSU. To order such items, use the Interlibrary Loan request forms at http://interlib.lib.msu.edu. Materials that also include Braille and audio versions of books may be requested from the Library of Michigan's Office of Services to the Blind and Handicapped (call 1-800-992-9012).

OTHER SERVICES

Wheelchair accessible MAGIC terminals are located near the Circulation Desk on the 1st floor lobby and in the Electronic Resources Help Room on 1-East. All machines in the Microforms Library (2-West) are accessible, as are microform readers in Government Documents (3-West) and Reference (1-East). Microform copiers are available in the Library Copy Center on 2-West. Dynamic Addressing Ethernet ports are now available throughout the Library.

This system will allow users to connect their laptop computers directly to the campus Ethernet network and are available in the Assistive Technology Center, Read-aloud room 220, and at many access points within the Main Library. Patrons' notebook PCs will need an ethernet jack and an RJ45 connector cable to attach to the Dynamic Addressing Ethernet ports.

In addition, the Main Library has a TTY number (Phone 353-9034) for placing information requests; messages can be left 24-hours a day for service as needed. Deaf/hard of hearing patrons may also contact the Main Library from any comptuer by accessing the virtual services of the Library from our home page at http://www.lib.msu.edu and e-mailing a question to Reference or a subject bibliographer.