Services for Patrons with Disabilities

Assistance is provided to patrons with disabilities in the use of services and collections by library staff at public service desks. Requests for special accommodations are made to the Director for Public Services (479-575-7795).

Arrangements for reasonable accommodations are coordinated with the campus Center for Educational Access (479-575-3104). Students with disabilities are encouraged to register with the Center for Educational Access to become eligible for the services provided through that office. To avoid delays in service that occur during peak service periods or to receive assistance with extensive research projects, patrons with disabilities are encouraged to make appointments with a reference librarian by calling the Reference Department (479-575-6645).

The recent addition to the library on the east side meets the requirements of the American Disabilities Act for new construction. Both entrances to the library are accessible by wheel chairs and are equipped with automatic door opening devices. Wheel chair accessible workstations are available for priority use by patrons with disabilities. In the older part of the library, the aisle widths do not meet the thirty-six inch requirement of ADA, but staff are available to help retrieve materials upon request. The University Libraries work cooperatively with the Center for Educational Access on campus to provide accommodations to students with disabilities. Accommodations currently available include:

• Ramps and electronic doors
• Accessible bathrooms
• Visual emergency alarms
• Retrieval of materials from shelves by library staff
• Wheel chair accessible computer workstations
• Computer Lab in Mullins Library equipped with adaptive technology
  • Jaws
  • Zoom Text
  • Dragon Naturally Speaking
  • Open Book
    
    
• Adaptive technology in Performing Arts and Media (Room 107 Mullins Library)
  • Visual Tek machine to provide enlarged text
• Braille textbooks (limited collection provided by the Center for Educational Access)

(479-575-6645)

Contact: Steve Chism (479-575-8420)

Interpretation of bibliographic citations and identification of call numbers and locations for materials in our collections. Answers to specific reference questions. Consultation services by appointment for help with subject-specific research. Orientation and instruction sessions on the use of the library.

(479-575-4104)

Contact: Sherryl Robinson (479-575-4103)

Retrieval of books and materials from library shelves. Check-out of library materials. Sign-out of key to room 326 (reserved study for use by patrons with disabilities).

(479-575-5517)

Contact: Lora Lennertz Jetton (479-575-6861)

Use of the Visual-Tek machine for enlargement of printed text. Use of audiovisual materials, including musical scores, sound and video recordings. Sign-out of cassette tape recorder for use in room 326.

(479-575-5312)

Contact: Lynaire Hartsell (479-575-2737)

Help with the location and use of current periodicals, microforms, and current newspapers. Assistance with copier services is available throughout the library on a self-service basis and in a separate room adjacent to the Lindley and Kaneaster Hodges, Jr., Reading Room. If large quantities of copying are needed, it is best to request assistance from the Center for Educational Access, which provides services to individuals registered with their office.

(479-575-5311)

Contact: Tess Gibson (479-575-2925)

Requests to borrow materials from other libraries not found in our collection. Assistance in completing Interlibrary Loan requests forms is available upon request.

(479-575-3498)

Contact: Phil Jones (479-575-3081)

Use of collections and services provided in the subjects of art and architecture.

(479-575-8444)

Contact: Andrea Cantrell (479-575-7251)

Use of books, manuscripts, and services, particularly in the subjects of Arkansas studies and University history.

• Arkansas Relay
  • Host: CapTel
  • Description: "Arkansas Relay provides a full telephone interpreting service between people who can hear and those who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled. Operators have computers that enable them to hear the voice users as well as read the typed text from the TTY users."
    "The service is available for Arkansans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There are no restrictions imposed on Relay calls. Confidentiality for relay users and Operators is assured by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Ruling."
    
    
• Deaf Library
  • Host: Karen Nakamura
  • Description: A virtual online library collection of materials and links intended to educate and inform.
    
    
• Division of Services for the Blind
  • Host: State of Arkansas Department of Human Services
  • Description: Resources for the blind in Arkansas.
    
    
• Helpful Links
  • Host: UA Center for Educational Access
  • Description: An extensive list of useful web sites for persons with various disabilities.
    
    
• Self Help for Hard of Hearing People
  • Host: SHHH
  • Description: A list of sources about hearing loss and treatments, assistive technology, and their association activities.