Accessibility Hub

Library services for people with disabilities include accessible formats of library materials, research assistance, adaptive technologies, descriptions about spaces, and connections with library staff who can facilitate accessing and using the library.  

Laurier Library is committed to providing accessible services and facilities to all members of the Laurier community.

Please contact the library's accessibility staff at libaccessibility@wlu.ca with any questions about library services offered. Information about campus-wide accessible services for students is available from the Accessible Learning Centre.

Research tutorials

The library has a series of tutorials to get you started with the tasks and skills of library research. There is also a Guide to Omni for screen reader users.

Individual Research Assistance

Book a research appointment with the Library's Accessible Services staff at libaccessibility@wlu.ca, or with your subject librarian.

This could involve help with searching the library's catalogue, help with navigating and using the library's resources, developing your research question and strategy, finding out about or using accessible services, remediating inaccessible PDFs and retrieving page numbers for screen reader users, or managing your references.

Help is available in person, online (through Zoom or Teams), phone or email. 

Library Materials in Accessible Formats

The library offers different options for getting accessible versions of library materials. For a summary of options see Getting library books in accessible formats.

Electronic Books

Many of the library's books are available in electronic format. For help in locating ebooks see Finding ebooks. If our electronic platforms are not accessible for you, you can request a better accessible format using the ACE service below.

Scan on Demand

The library will scan print journal articles and chapters of books in its collection. For more information and instructions see Scan on Demand. Scans are done with basic OCR. If you require additional tagging of the PDF please add your request in the Notes field of the request form.

ACE (Accessible Content E-Portal)

The Accessible Content E-Portal (ACE) is a service which provides access to digitized accessible editions of books. 

A token is required to access ACE services. For registered students, tokens are available from the Accessible Learning Centre. For faculty, staff, or students not registered with the ALC, please contact us at libace@wlu.ca.

To access ACE, search the ACE repository. If you don't find what you need there, place an ACE request through the form or by emailing libace@wlu.ca. For instructions, see Getting Library books in accessible formats.

Page Numbers

If you use a screen reader and need help with identifying page numbers, contact us at libaccessibility@wlu.ca and we can help.

PDF Remediation

Please contact us at libaccessibility@wlu.ca for help with remediation of other PDF library materials, such as articles. 

Individual Study Rooms (Waterloo campus)

Students registered with the Accessible Learning Centre can reserve rooms for individual quiet study on floors 4-7. Students may book rooms online up to a week in advance and for up to six hours per day. Pick up and return the key to your room at the main floor Help and Services Desk.

For students not registered with the ALC, individual study rooms on floor 3 and study pods on floor 7 (not wheelchair-accessible) are available for booking by all students. 

Print Materials Pickup and Delivery

Books to Go

You can request print books or other circulating items from any Laurier Library and any library in Omni, using the Books to Go service. Staff will get them from the shelves for you to pick up at your local library. You can arrange for someone to pick up the books for you (called a designate). To set up a designate, email infouser@wlu.ca.

Mail-on-Demand

Books available in Omni can also be mailed directly to your home, with no need to come into the library. Mail-on-Demand service is free for both sending and returns and available to all students, staff, and faculty at Laurier.

Video captioning and description

The Library will add captioning or description to videos in the Library collection as needed, for required course materials or research needs. As we contract out captioning and description to a third party service and require some lead time, please let us know about needs as far in advance as possible. To request that a Library video be captioned or described, please contact Charlotte Innerd (cinnerd@wlu.ca).

Location-Specific Accessible Services

Additional information, building-specific services, and contacts available at each Laurier campus.

Feedback

Accessibility is an ongoing project. If you encounter an issue or would like to offer a suggestion, we want to hear from you. Please use the accessibility feedback form or contact libaccessibility@wlu.ca.

Further Information