-
The University of Queensland Library provides a physical and virtual environment that ensures students with disabilities can effectively access and manage the information they need for their learning and research.
Many of our services are available 24x7 and our client-focussed staff are happy to help you locate and use information efficiently. The Library website complies with W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Online assistance is offered through the Ask a Librarian and Ask I.T. Help services. If you need special assistance please contact us. Each branch library has a designated staff member who can assist you, or you could use the "Feedback & suggestions" link at the foot of this page to make your needs known to us.
Training in effective information access and the use of computers is provided. Individual training in the use of specialist software and equipment can be arranged through the Disability Program, Student Services.
Our facilities are designed to provide easy access. All branch libraries allow for wheelchair access. On the St Lucia campus, Assistive Technology Rooms which are located in the UQ Graduate Study Area, Level 4, Duhig Building, are equipped with assistive software for students with vision impairment, mobility or learning disabilities. The UQ Ipswich Library and Gatton Library are equipped with similar facilities.
Find out about the Library and its services early in your time at the University and do not hesitate to ask for help or check out the website for services that may be helpful to you.
Keith Webster
University Librarian and Director of Learning Services
-
The Library is comprised of 14 subject-based branch libraries, located on the St Lucia, Gatton and Ipswich campuses and in three teaching hospitals. In addition, it has an eZone, several warehouses for lesser-used material, as well as the University Archives and the Ask I.T. Service.
Consult the Locations page for more details. The floor plans indicate the location of lifts and wheelchair accessible toilets in each branch.
-
Students borrow from the collection by presenting their student cards. Generous borrowing privileges facilitate student learning.
Find out more by accessing our Borrowing guides.
If you have any questions about borrowing or about your library record, you can ask at the Loans Desk in any branch library.
Special loan arrangements may be organised through your branch library. Please contact the Disability Program, Student Services, to discuss your needs.
Although the Library normally requires students to borrow in person, we do offer a service for people whose disabilities prevent them from attending the library regularly. If you would like to nominate another person to borrow on your behalf, please fill out and return this form.
-
To access some Library services, you will need to prove that you are a member of the University of Queensland Library.
To borrow, you will need your student card.
For the following online activities:
- Placing requests via the catalogue on items that are currently on loan
- Checking, renewing loans, cancelling holds and checking document delivery requests
- Accessing some databases, electronic journals and electronic books (licenses restrict access to current UQ staff and students)
you will need either:
- UQ username and password; or
- Library number and Password
For more details, visit the Login Help page.
The Library website complies with W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. The Library is aware that many students rely upon screen reading programs that run over the text only interface; if you experience any problems please contact help@askit.uq.edu.au.
Library staff are available for consultation.
If you have questions about finding or accessing information and resources, our librarians can help you. Staff at Information Desks in all branch libraries offer personal or telephone assistance. You can email your questions or chat online with a librarian via our Ask a Lbrarian service. - In the following branch libraries, there is a contact person to look after the interests of persons with disabilities:
Architecture & Music Library (St Lucia) |
Cathy Bauer |
3346 3506 |
Biological and Health Sciences (St Lucia) |
Fei Yu |
3346 4397 |
Dorothy Hill Physical Sciences and Engineering Library (St Lucia) |
Margaret Gauld |
3346 3506 |
Economics and Business Library (St Lucia) |
Dale Drysdale |
3365 6566 |
Fryer Library (St Lucia) |
Rose Wade |
3365 6277 |
Gatton Library (Gatton Campus) |
Maria Chalmers |
5460 1272 |
Ipswich Library (Ipswich Campus) |
Miranda Newell |
3381 1281 |
Law Library (St Lucia) |
Jeanette Shaw |
3346 3522 |
Social Sciences and Humanities Library (St Lucia) |
Pam Schindler |
3346 3673 |
Information Skills Training
Success in your studies is dependent on the ability to locate and analyse relevant resources. Teaching emphasises problem-solving and independent research. The Library offers a range of information skills training to help you conduct your own research effectively:
- Tours and Orientation sessions
- Discovering the Library - a one-hour introductory class on using the Library's website including the catalogue
- Enhancing your Assignments - a one-hour class on using databases to find information for your assignment
- Mastering your Research Skills - a one-hour class on using the Internet effectively and efficiently
- Information Skills for Researchers and Postgraduates - a ten-hour modular course covering information retrieval, databases, citation indexes, Internet skills and personal reference databases
Class dates, times and locations are listed in the Training Calendar.
Liaison librarians work closely with lecturers and run tailored information skills classes within specific courses.
Computing assistance
-
Ask I.T. offers computing help and training for UQ students, including:
- A choice of help services:
- Help desks - located on the St Lucia, Gatton and Ipswich campuses
- Telephone - (07) 3365 8811
- Email
- IT training classes - including:
- Working with Microsoft Windows
- Computing @ UQ
- Microsoft Office software - Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- mySI-net
- Star Office
For more information, visit the Ask I.T. website.
-
You can request items from other campuses, check and renew loans and search our catalogue using your web browser. There are feedback forms at most points of our website.
Please consult staff at the Information Desk of your branch library if you require assistance with retrieving items from shelves. Photocopying and printing assistance can be arranged in advance if required. Participation assistance can be arranged with the Disability Program, Student Services.
-
A program is available through the Disability Program, Student Services for students who cannot take adequate notes because of their disabilities. Arrangements are made for a student peer to provide copies of the notes taken in lectures and tutorials for eligible students.
-
The Gatton collection point for peer notetaking materials is at the Information Desk.
The Ipswich collection point is at the Transaction Desk.
The St Lucia collection point is located on Level 2, Duhig Building. Access from the Great Court entrance, or via lift from the front entrance.
Because the Library has numerous service points, the use of a TTY is not feasible. If you have a speech or hearing impairment, we suggest that you make use of the Australian Communication Exchange National Relay Service to contact the Library by phone.
-
- All Library branches are wheelchair accessible
- Taxi ranks are located at all UQ campuses
- Students with special needs may apply for a disability parking permit at Queensland Transport.
-
The Library provides over 1100 computers for accessing the Library website including the catalogue, databases, the internet, word processing and email. Wheelchair accessible email workstations are available in all branches.
Options to increase font size on public computers:
- Firefox
- CTRL, SCROLL (increases and decreases font size)
- CTRL + (to increase font size)
- CTRL - (to decrease font size)
- CTRL 0 (to set back to normal font size)
- View > Text Size
- (All the above commands have been tested in a random choice of law databases although with two databases listed links may not resolve if using Firefox – Westlaw and Legal Journals Index.)
- Internet Explorer
- CTRL, SCROLL (increases and decreases font size)
- View > Text Size
- Netscape
- CTRL, SCROLL (increases and decreases font size)
- CTRL + (to increase font size)
- CTRL - (to decrease font size)
- CTRL 0 (to set back to normal font size)
- View > Text Zoom, choose the font size you want, or specify your font size
Options to maximize contrasting on public computers
- Start > Programs > Accessories > Accessibility > Accessibility Wizard
The Microsoft Windows Accessibility Wizard allows you to change the following:
- Font size – can change text size and changes font size for window title bars, menus and other features (does NOT increase size of text inside windows)
- Switch to a lower resolution – increases the size of items on the screen including text inside windows
- Use Microsoft magnifier – opens a floating window which displays an enlarged view of part of the active screen
- Allows you to select a scroll bar and window border size, desktop icon size, high contrast display colours, size and colour of mouse cursor, blink rate and width of cursor
-
Accessibility Features in Acrobat Reader 7
Acrobat Reader 7 includes new features to make pdf documents more accessible. One option is a “read aloud” feature, which provides a spoken-word version of any pdf created from text (not pdfs created by scanning). This makes it possible to listen to many of the online articles and electronic books available through UQ Library, without using any additional software.
A good guide to the accessibility features in Acrobat 7 is available at: http://www.webaim.org/resources/reader/
-
Three Assistive Technology Rooms located on(Level 4 of the Duhig Building), are available to users registered with the Disability Program, Student Services.
These rooms can be booked in advance at the AskIT Information Desk on Level 2 of the Duhig Building, or by telephone.
Room
1 |
Hardware
- Dell Optiplex 745 Desktop
- 17" Flat Panel LCD Monitor (Analog)
- HP Flatbed Scanjet 5370c
- HP Laserjet printer 2300
- USB Multimedia Keyboard (US version)
- 8 X USB Connections
- 48X/32X/48X/16X Max CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
- 40 GB Serial ATA II (7200RPM) Hard Drive
- Speakers
|
Software
- Windows XP Professional SP2 (English)
- MS Office 2003
- Email access
- Endnote 10
- Norton Antivirus Corporate 10.1
- UQ Citrix client
Assistive Software
- JAWS 8.0
- Open Book 7.0.105
- Duxbury 10.4
- Read & Write Gold 7.0.85
- Connect Out Loud 2.00.80
|
Room
2 |
Hardware
- Dell Optiplex 745 Desktop
- 17" Flat Panel LCD Monitor (Analog)
- HP Flatbed Scanjet 5370c
- HP Laserjet printer 2300
- 8 X USB Connections
- 48X/32X/48X/16X Max CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
- 40 GB Serial ATA II (7200RPM) Hard Drive
- Speakers
- Headset with Microphone
|
Software
- Windows XP Professional SP2 (English)
- MS Office 2003
- Email access
- Endnote 10
- Norton Antivirus Corporate 10.1
- UQ Citrix client
Assistive Software
- JAWS 8.0
- Open Book 7.2.326
- Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional 8
- Read & Write Gold 7.0.85
- Connect Out Loud 2.00.80
- ZoomText
|
Room
3 |
Hardware
- Dell Optiplex 745 Minitower
- 2405FPW 24" Widescreen UntraSharp LCD (DVI and Analog) monitor
- USB Performance Keyboard (US version)
- 8 X USB Connections
- HP Flatbed Scanjet 5370c
- HP Laserjet printer 2300
- Headset with Microphone
- 16x Max DVD+/-RW Drive with Dual Layer Capabilities
- 160GB Serial ATA II (7200RPM) Hard Drive
- Speakers
- NEC TV (20", 51cm)
- Palsonic TVP341 VCR/Screen (output through NEC TV)
- SmartView Pulse Data magnifier (output through NEC TV)
|
Software
- Windows XP Professional SP2 (English)
- MS Office 2003
- Email access
- Norton Antivirus Corporate 10.1
- UQ Citrix client
- Endnote 10
Assistive Software
- Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional 8
- ZoomText 9
- Read & Write Gold 7.0.85
- Connect Out Loud 2.00.80
|
|
-
The Library provides two Smartview Magnifiers with 63 cm (24 inches) television screens - one located at the Ipswich Campus Library and the other in Assistive Technology Room 3, Level 4, Duhig Building.
Public telephones are available in some branch libraries. Libraries on the St Lucia campus provide courtesy phones allowing you to make free calls to numbers within the University.
-
The Library works closely with the University's Disability Program, Student Services which provides many services for students with Disabilities.
-
Librarians work with Learning Assistance, Student Services to help students become independent and confident learners able to achieve their academic goals. The Learning Assistance staff help students to understand the standards and demands of the educational system and to develop appropriate approaches to meet these demands.
|
