Services for Patrons with Disabilities

Library staff is committed to providing a successful library experience for people with disabilities. To ensure staff availability, advance notice may be required for some services. If your disability is not apparent, please identify yourself as having a disability when you seek assistance.

Retrieving Materials

The circulation staff will retrieve materials (books or journals) from the stacks. If staffing permits this may be done immediately. If it cannot be done immediately the materials will be held for you at the Circulation Desk or delivered to another library. However, if you call or email ahead to the appropriate library with the call numbers of the books you need they will be waiting for you when you come in. (Note that email may not be checked at the weekends or evenings.)

Students with disabilities may request for books which circulate to be delivered from branches or other libraries on campus to your nearest library, for example from Perkins to Lilly.

Journal Articles

You may request copies of articles in journals or magazines from any library on campus. Just ask at the Perkins Reference Desk, the Bostock Help Desk, the Lilly Reference Desk, or at any of the branch libraries.

Many journal articles are available in full text on the Web via databases such as Academic Search Premier and Proquest. Check the journal's title in the e-journal finder or the online catalog for full-text holdings, or contact the Reference Desk for help.

Reserves

Many reserves are online. If you need extra time to use books or articles which are on reserve in the library or branches, ask for an extended loan when you check out the material.

Renewal

Books can be renewed online.

Copiers

If you have difficulty using the photocopy machines the library staff will make photocopies for you of articles. The charge is $.07 with copy card or Duke ID Card Flex account, or $.10 if cash.  Ask at the Perkins Reference Desk, the Bostock Help Desk, the Lilly Reference Desk, or at any of the branch libraries. If you call or email ahead with article citations, copied articles will be processed with a 2-3 day turnaround. (See list of contacts).

Library Programs

If you are planning to attend a program taking place in the library and you need special assistance (including wheelchair accessibility) please contact the program's sponsor prior to the event to ensure access.