Services for Persons with Disabilities
Need Assistance?
Whenever you need assistance in the Library, please notify a Library staff member at any public service desk, or email our staff at atc@mail.lib.msu.edu.
The MSU Libraries work with persons with disabilities to ensure their effective use of the Library and its resources. The Main Library, an accessible building, hosts the Assistive Technology Center, and offers a variety of assistance programs. We work closely with the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) to coordinate services where possible.
Many services are available on-demand. However, assistance requiring more than 10 minutes of staff time, in any department, will require an appointment. If you have a unique situation that requires assistance that is not currently offered, please contact us at atc@mail.lib.msu.edu and we will consider possible options.
Circulation Services (Lobby)
Phone: 517.355.2333
Circulation staff may retrieve up to 3 items upon request as staffing permits. Long lists of material that need to be retrieved must be arranged through email at atc@mail.lib.msu.edu.
In the Main Library, lockers may be checked out by MSU-affiliated borrowers for one semester for storage of belongings and checked out library materials. Patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing can call the Main Library’s TTY number (517-353-9034) for renewals, extended searches and other Circulation requests.
Reference Services
Reference help, including assistance with using reference books and the Library’s catalog, is available at the Main Library Reference Desk (Lobby or by using "Ask a Librarian"). Extensive assistance may require a scheduled appointment, which can be arranged via email to atc@mail.lib.msu.edu..
Photocopy Services
Assistance with self-service photocopying is available as staffing allows at the Library Copy Center (on 2-West) at the current price. Without extra charge, material can be left at the Copy Center for the staff to copy.
Map Library
The Map Library, located on 3-West, has a collection of several dozen tactile maps--primarily state maps and world continents. For assistance, ask at the Map Library Desk.
InterLibrary Services
For MSU students, staff, and faculty, the MSU Libraries requests material not owned by MSU from other institutions. To order such items, refer to the InterLibrary Services web pages. Materials that also include Braille and audio versions of books may be requested from the Library of Michigan's Office of Services to the Blind and Handicapped (call 1-800-992-9012).
Other Available Services
Wheelchair accessible workstations are located in the Beaumont Instruction Room on 1-East. All machines in the Microforms Library (2-West) are accessible, as are microform readers in Government Documents (3-West) and Reference (1-East). Microform copiers are available in the Library Copy Center on 2-West. The MSU Libraries’ Main Library is wireless making it convenient to use personal laptop.
For read aloud space, please use the Assistive Technology Center on the first floor as a first option. If the room is occupied, there are group study rooms available on the second and third floor of the West wing. If none of these rooms are available, please ask the staff at the Reference or Circulation desks to reserve a Collaborative Technology Lab for your use. These rooms may be reserved in advance by using the reservation system found at http://reservations.lib.msu.edu.
Services Available Remotely/Remote Services
The Main Library has a TTY number (Phone: 517-353-9034) for placing information requests; messages can be left 24-hours a day for service as needed. Deaf/hard of hearing patrons may also contact the Main Library from any computer by accessing the virtual services of the Library from our home page at http://www.lib.msu.edu and e-mailing a question to Reference or a subject bibliographer.
Facility Accommodations
- Ramp access to the Main Library is provided at the Red Cedar Entrance (south door) with a power assisted door.
- Accessible parking is located on the east side of the Main Library near the gates, and for those with faculty/staff gate cards, southwest of the Red Cedar door.
- Wheelchair accessible rest rooms are located on the 1st floor (West Wing) across from the CyberCafe and on the 4th floor (West Wing) near the Fine Arts Library -- after exiting the main elevator on the 4th floor West, turn right and then right again between the tables and the book shelves. The restrooms are before the doorway. (The restrooms and water fountain left of the elevator are not accessible.)
- Wheelchair accessible drinking fountains are located on the 1st floor (West Wing) across from the CyberCafe and on the 4th floor (West Wing) around the corner from the back elevator in the book shelves area.
- A coin-operated telephone with amplification device and TTY is located in the 1st floor lobby across from the Reference desk. The telephone is wheelchair accessible. A campus phone, located on the 4th floor (West Wing) by the back elevator, is also wheelchair accessible.
- Elevators in both the East and West wings provide access to all floors of the Main Library. All elevators have Braille and tactile numbering and lettering both outside and inside each elevator
Assistive Technology Equipment
For a complete description of adaptive equipment available, please visit our website at http://www2.lib.msu.edu/about/atc/index.jsp.
RCPD Services for MSU Students and Employees with Disabilities
The Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) at Michigan State University offers a variety of services and equipment for use by students and employees with disabilities. Currently enrolled students, faculty and staff may wish to register and work with an RCPD disability specialist. RCPD facilities are located in 120 Bessey Hall. Telephone numbers are 517-884-RCPD, or 517-355-1293 (TTY). The URL is http://rcpd.msu.edu/.
Whenever you need assistance in the Library, please notify a Library staff member at any public service desk.
Library contact: Denise Forro, forro@msu.edu