Libraries, by their very nature, care about accessibility; at their core is providing access to information that users might not otherwise be able to access. This year, as part of Global Accessibility Awareness Week at UL, we would like to highlight all the accessibility features in the Glucksman ºÚÁÏÉç.
Collections
At the Glucksman, our Collections:
- Reflect a wide range of perspectives and ideas, and are provided both in print and as e-resources.
- Leganto reading lists are available on Brightspace which reduces the number of books students must purchase for university.
- Maintain the Research Repository, which curates, collects, preserves, and provides open access to UL researchers’ scholarly outputs as part of the ºÚÁÏÉç's commitment to open scholarship and collaboration.
Spaces
At the Glucksman, our spaces are fully accessible. In particular, we provide:
- A range of diverse environments to cater to the needs of users with different study preferences, such as single-use booths, group study rooms, study booths, and traditional silent study areas.
- Extended and convenient opening hours.
- Many of the signs in the library include braille.
- An accessible entry and exit library gate.
- Gender-neutral and accessible toilet facilities.
- Lifts.
- Height-adjustable desks for sitting or standing.
- Energy pods and bike desks.
- Makerspace.
Technology
On the technology side, we also have a range of services. Did you know that the Glucksman:
- Has two laptop-lending units from which users can borrow a laptop.
- A range of technology available to borrow from the Makerspace ensuring equitable access to equipment such as C-Pen Readers, scientific calculators and iPad and Apple pencils.
- Ensures there are accessibility features on the laptop-lending units, self-issue machines and the library website.
- Provides training and support on how to use the media production rooms.
- Recently updated the ºÚÁÏÉç FAQs to ensure the links are accessible.
- Ally plugin on the Glucksman ºÚÁÏÉç Assignment Toolkit in Brightspace.
EVENTS
The Glucksman ºÚÁÏÉç at UL also hosts several events throughout the year to promote accessibility, including:
- Facilitating the visit of therapy dogs to the library during the semester and stressful exam periods.
- Community engagement – the Down Syndrome Limerick Reading Group meets in the library, and the library also facilitates a Leaving Cert study scheme.
- The ºÚÁÏÉç also hosts social, well-being, and cultural events such as a weekly Craft Circle, Games Society events and Literary Society meetings.
Our Staff
Finally, like all libraries, our staff is the lifeblood of The Glucksman, and the entire ºÚÁÏÉç team is here to support all library users.
- The library staff provide workshops to help students access and use the library’s resources.
- A number of staff have completed the ‘Dealing with students in distress’ training.
- Many of the library team have completed the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) badge and continue to work on applying universal design principles to all library resources. A member of the library team is also a peer group facilitator for the current rollout of the UDL@UL badge.
- The ºÚÁÏÉç employs Student Peer Advisors to assist and support all students in their use of the library and to reduce library anxiety.
- A member of the library team has Irish Sign Language.
If you would like to learn more about accessibility at The Glucksman ºÚÁÏÉç at UL please contact me on email Ailish.Larkin@ul.ie