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Library


Library Services for Users with Disabilities

Purpose

The Library is committed to providing a learning environment which supports the information needs of the Cal State San Marcos community. Our services, collections, teaching and community outreach honor and reflect diverse perspectives, learning styles and ways of knowing. With the help of innovative technologies, our staff selects, acquires, provides access and delivers resources and instruction that support the lifelong learning needs of our students and community. The Library upholds and practices the principles of the Cal State San Marcos Mission Statement and the Library Bill of Rights, endorsed by the American Library Association.

To that end, all library faculty, staff and students offer quality service to all library users. While this document highlights particular services, the Library accommodates users with disabilities on a case-by-case basis, based on their specific needs, and within the parameters of library policies.

This document will be reviewed annually.

Library Liaison

The role of the Library Liaison to Users with Disabilities includes:

  • Serves as a contact person for students with disabilities via personal contact, telephone and e-mail.
  • Encourages their use of the library and their information literacy.
  • Provides library research assistance if subject liaisons are unavailable.
  • Monitors and suggests alterations of or the introduction of policies or services.
  • Works to increase library staff and faculty awareness about persons with disabilities and the disabilities themselves.
  • Maintains good working relationships with Disabled Student Services.

Library Liaison contact information:

Melanie Chu, KEL 3426, mchu@csusm.edu or (760) 750-4378.

Disabled Student Services (DSS) contact information:

John Segoria, CRA 5205, jsegoria@csusm.edu or (760) 750-4905.

Individual Assistance

Generally, due to the volume of students in the research help area, we will get a student started on research and then check back on his/her progress. During quiet times we may be able to spend 10-15 minutes with a user; if more help is needed, then a research appointment can be made with the Library Liaison or appropriate subject librarian.

Staff at the Research Help Desk will read, write or print out (with student’s copy card) a reasonable number of entries from the library catalog, indexes (in print or electronic format), web-based resources or other information sources for persons unable to do so by themselves. The definition of a “reasonable” number depends on both staff and student workload at the time the user seeks assistance.

Staff may also provide assistance with filling out of library forms. However, when service desks are busy and extended individual attention is needed (beyond 10-15 minutes) the user may be asked to make an appointment with either the subject librarian or the Library Liaison for up to one hour of research related help. Users with disabilities can also prearrange appointments with the subject librarian or Liaison for an individual research session.

We do not provide reading services, i.e. reading personal e-mails or textbooks, or other non-library related activities. The DSS office on campus can provide additional resources such as readers for textbooks.

Check Out Privileges

All students may renew their Cal State San Marcos books either online or over the telephone. To renew books online go to http://library.csusm.edu/ and follow the directions. To renew books by telephone call the Check Out Desk at (760) 750-4348. Any request for individualized  privileges should be made at the Check Out Desk.

Permission to check out reference materials for short periods of time may be granted at the discretion of the Librarian on duty. Parts of multi-volume sets and high use materials may not however be available for circulation. Inquiries about reference material loans may be made at the Research Help Desk at (760) 750-4391.

Telephone/Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD)

TTY/TDD – To contact the library using a TDD device call the Check Out Desk at (760) 750-3163. Library staff and students in this area have been trained in the use of the TDD device and can provide phone assistance for library related questions.

Research questions

To ask short information questions via e-mail send your query to libref@csusm.edu or use the form located at http://library.csusm.edu/forms/reference_question.asp

For telephone research questions call the Research Help Desk at (760) 750-4391. For questions regarding checking out of materials, reserve materials, interlibrary loan etc. call the Check Out Desk at (760)750-4348.

To make an appointment with a librarian in your subject area, fill out an appointment form online at http://library.csusm.edu/forms/reference_appointment.asp or contact the Research Help Desk on the 3rd floor of the Library.

We also have a live Internet chat service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer research questions at http://library.csusm.edu/services/research_help/

Paging of Books

Library materials will be paged upon request for users with disabilities. Requests for paging of items should be made at the Check Out Desk on the 3rd floor of the Library. Items will be retrieved based on staff availability and students will be notified when they should return for the materials. Materials paged after regular business hours (8 am to 5 pm) may not be available until the next business day.

Photocopying and Printing

All users pay for photocopying and printing from computers. Copy machines accept coins, bills and copycards. Copycards must be used for printing. Cards cost $1 and additional money can be added to the card. Users with disabilities preventing them from operating a printer or microform/reader printer may seek reasonable assistance from either the Research Help desk on the 3rd floor or the Information Desk on the 4th floor. Users who need assistance with photocopying should seek assistance from the Copy Center, KEL 4306, (760) 750-4547 for more information.

Library Handouts and Brochures

The library publishes a variety of material, much of which can be found on the Library's web site (http://library.csusm.edu). Contact the Library Liaison for more details and for specific requests to convert these materials to an alternative format.

Adaptive Equipment

All the student log-in computers on the 3rd floor have access to Microsoft's Accessibility accessories. There are also three wheelchair accessible workstations, plus one cranktop station, on the 3rd floor of the Kellogg Library. A CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) is available near the 4th floor information desk of the Kellogg Library as well as in the Adaptive Technology Lab.

Adaptive Technology Lab

The Adaptive Technology Lab is located on the 3rd floor of the library and contains the following assistive devices:

  • Braille printer
  • Braille Display Keyboard
  • JAWS NT screen reader
  • Open Book screen reader
  • Naturally Speaking speech recognition
  • Scanner
  • CCTV
  • Cranktop Tables

For access to the Adaptive Technology Lab, DSS students can receive a personal access card from the DSS office. Students and community members not registered with DSS can check out an access card from the Library Check Out Desk.
For assistance in the lab contact:

  • Technology/Hardware questions – Student Technology Help Desk at x6505
  • DSS questions, including software – John Segoria at x4905
  • Library research questions – Research Help Desk at x4391 or Melanie Chu at x4378.

Parking

Cal State San Marcos Parking Services has provided spaces which are designated for use by disabled persons who possess a valid DMV placard/license plate.   Most disabled spaces are located in lot H, while the closest spaces to the Library are in lot C. A current validated DMV plate/placard must be properly displayed along with a Cal State San Marcos semester, long term or daily parking permit to park in the disabled parking spaces. Contact Parking Services, FCB 107, (760) 750-7500, for more information.

Safety

The library is concerned with the safety of persons with disabilities. Procedures concerning the proper evacuation of persons with disabilities are located in the Library's Evacuation Plan. The Library consults with Disabled Student Services when developing and modifying such plans.

Links to Information & Services

General

Services

Last updated 9/06