Services for People with Disabilities
The UC Davis Library is committed to providing equal access to all users, at our library buildings and on our website, as articulated in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Users with disability-related needs are encouraged to request accommodations.
Help with Research and Library Materials
Library staff is available during normal business hours to provide assistance. We encourage you to make an appointment in advance so we can best meet your needs.
- Make an appointment for research help. When you submit your request, please note if you are using assistive technology.
- Retrieving books or periodicals from the stacks
- To request real-time paging of books and other physical items, come to the Circulation Desk. Five items will be paged while the library user is present (generally within 15-30 minutes)
- To request books and other physical items in advance, please use the “UCD request” link in UC Library Search
- Up to 25 items will be paged within 24-48 hours.
- Photocopying or scanning of materials is available. Alternatively, users may bring an assistant to use the library’s public photocopiers or contract with an information vendor
- Providing a proxy card or modifying lending rules, as appropriate for the user’s disability-related circumstances.
- Sending materials to another library location, including non-circulating items.
Advanced registration with the UC Davis Student Disability Center (students) or Disability Management Services (faculty and staff) is required for real-time paging or modification of either proxy or lending rules. Contact shieldscirc@ucdavis.edu with questions regarding these services.
Accessible Digitized Books in HathiTrust
HathiTrust is a partnership of academic & research institutions, offering a collection of millions of titles digitized from libraries around the world. Eligible UC Davis users with a visual or print disability can receive special, full-text access to in-copyright materials in HathiTrust.
In order to take advantage of this service, please register first with the UC Davis Student Disability Center (students) or Disability Management Services (faculty and staff).
Assistive Technology
- The Student Disability Center provides access to print material through assistive technology, reader services, braille, e-text, and enlarged print.
- Public workstations at Blaisdell Medical Library and Shields Library are equipped with the Windows Magnifier app, which can be used to enlarge text on-screen when using digital materials.
Accessible Study Space
At Shields Library
Group-sized study room 103A is located within the 24-Hour Study Room, next to the entrance. This space is generally available on a first-come, first-served basis, but may be reserved for use by students with disabilities.
To reserve this space, students should contact the campus Student Disability Center at 530-752‑3184 (voice) or 530-752‑6833 (TTY). The library does not manage access to this room.
At Blaisdell Medical Library
There are two study and four collaboration rooms at Blaisdell Medical Library that can be reserved in advance by faculty, staff, and health sciences graduate students with active UC Davis Health badges. When not reserved, these rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additional Information
More information on resources available to students with disabilities, and to the faculty and staff serving them, can be found at the Student Disability Center. Qualifying UC Davis students can receive accommodations to assist with library research. Contact the campus Student Disability Center at 530-752‑3184 (voice) or 530-752‑6833 (TTY) to inquire about this program.
Disability Issues Special Collection, sponsored by the Forum on Disability Issues (FDI), is housed within the Women’s Resources and Research Center Library in North Hall. Faculty, staff, and students may borrow from this community resource.