Queen Mary Library Services is committed to making its spaces, collections, and services equally accessible to all its users. Students, staff, and visitors are encouraged to email us at library@qmul.ac.uk for help in accessing any of these resources.
We also work with the Queen Mary Disability and Dyslexia Service (DDS) to provide equitable access for students with a disability or other specific need. These students will need to book an appointment with DDS, who will assess their eligibility for the following concessions offered by Library Services.
Assistive Technology Room at Mile End Library
Library inductions
DDS students can email library@qmul.ac.uk to arrange a personalized induction at any of our library sites, where we will highlight our available services, spaces, and collections, as well as how to access them.
Assistive technology facilities
Mile End Library
There is a dedicated Assistive Technology Room on the ground floor of the Mile End Library (room no. ME-G.17) which includes:
- Desktop computers with the following assistive software and web tool:
- JAWS screen reader
- NVDA screen reader
- Zoomtext Magnifier/Reader
- Claroread - Easy to use text to speech software
- Mindview - Mind mapping tool to organise and develop ideas
- SensusAccess (Queen Mary webpage) - Adds OCR accessibility to documents
- Height adjustable desks for each computer
- Multifunction Printing Device – Available to DDS students for printing, scanning, and photocopying
If you have already been assessed by DDS for a disability and you would like to use the space, please email dds@qmul.ac.uk to be granted access.
Whitechapel Library
There is a bookable space at Whitechapel with the following assistive technologies:
- An additional PC monitor – Plug in a laptop using a HDMI cable to do your work across two screens
- Height adjustable desk
- Ergonomic chair
- A designated desk light
Please note that the bookable space refers to one desk in an open space on the ground floor of Whitechapel Library. You can reserve the space here.
West Smithfield Library
There is a dedicated Assistive Technology Room on the ground floor of West Smithfield Library which includes:
- Desktop computer with the following assistive software and web tool:
- JAWS screen reader
- NVDA screen reader
- Claroread - Easy to use text to speech software
- Mindview - Mind mapping tool to visually organise and develop ideas
- SensusAccess (Queen Mary webpage) - Adds OCR accessibility to documents
- Height adjustable desk
100% extra time on initial book loans
DDS students can request to extend their loans for an extra week when borrowing books. They can do this by asking staff at the Welcome Desk in our libraries, by emailing library@qmul.ac.uk, or messaging us on library chat.
Book fetching and proxy book fetching
Library staff will fetch physical copies of books for DDS students who have a book fetching or proxy book fetching concession.
Applicable students should email their requests to library@qmul.ac.uk, specifying whether they would like the item to be held at Mile End or Whitechapel Library.
Library Services will contact the DDS student when their requested item is ready for collection at the Welcome Desk of the chosen library.
The student can then collect the book themselves or through a proxy borrower.
A proxy borrower is someone nominated by the DDS student to collect books from Welcome Desk on their behalf. This person can be a student from the university or someone who is not a member of the university.
DDS students with a proxy borrowing concession should email the name of their nominated proxy borrower to library@qmul.ac.uk for our records.
Book scanning
DDS students with a book scanning concession can request an accessible copy of a document through our Book Scan, Electronic Copy, and Photocopy Form.
Queen Mary Library Services will look to provide access to your desired resource as soon as possible, which may not always be in the form of a book scan carried out and processed by ourselves. We will contact your student email if we find the following:
- We can source or purchase an accessible e-book/PDF copy for you
- We can help you use an accessible copy already available to our students
If found, we will check if these alternatives meet your needs as they can provide access to your desired resource within hours or a matter of days, whilst the process of scanning a book and OCR processing can take longer - a week or more for an entire book.
Postal book returns
DDS Students with a postal book returns concession can email library@qmul.ac.uk to arrange the safe collection and return of loaned books free of charge. Please note, these students will need to provide suitable packaging for the items they are returning.
Photocopying and printing
DDS may assess a student to be eligible for reimbursement of their printing and photocopying costs.
The printing and photocopying will need to have been made on the Multifunction Printing Devices provided by Queen Mary University of London. Applicable DDS students can request invoices for their printing and photocopying costs once per term through the IT Help Desk.
If you are unsure about your eligibility for reclaiming printing and photocopying costs, please call DDS at +44 (0) 20 7882 2756 or email them at dds@qmul.ac.uk.
Private study carrels
Contacts
Nick Holloway, DDS Liaison for Library Services:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7882 8955
Email: library@qmul.ac.uk
Queen Mary Disability and Dyslexia Service (DDS):
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7882 2756
Email: dds@qmul.ac.uk