Disability and dyslexia support

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.

Mile End 

• 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 visually 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

Whitechapel 

There is a single desk at Whitechapel that can be booked on our library website. This desk can be found in an open space next to the Welcome Desk and includes: 

• An additional PC monitor which allows users to plug in a laptop to work across two screens 

• Height adjustable desk 

• Ergonomic chair 

• A designated desk light 

There is also a desktop computer next to the accessible lift with the following assistive technologies 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 

Please refer to our Accessing Library Buildings webpage for guidance on navigating Whitechapel Library. 

West Smithfield Library 

• Desktop computer with the following 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
• Adjustable standing lamp
• Portable radiator

DDS students with a loan extension concession will have their loans automatically renew every two weeks rather than every week. This grants them more time to use and return their items. 

Library staff will fetch books from the shelves and store them for collection at any of our library sites (Mile End, Whitechapel, or West Smithfield).

To make a request, DDS students should search our library catalogue and place a hold on their desired items. They will then be able to choose which library site they would like to collect the item from (Mile End, Whitechapel, or West Smithfield). Unlike other library members, DDS can place same site holds – for example, a hold can be placed on a book at Mile End Library and collected from the Welcome Desk of Mile End Library.

Library Services will contact the DDS student when their requested item is ready for collection at the Welcome Desk of the chosen library.

Please email library@qmul.ac.uk if you need any assistance placing a hold.

The hold can be collected by the student 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 should email the name of their nominated proxy borrower to library@qmul.ac.uk for our records. The proxy borrower should bring along their personal ID so we can confirm their identity when they collect the DDS user’s holds at the Welcome Desk.

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.

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.

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.

DDS students with the Study Carrel concession can use the private one-person space on the First Floor North Reading Room of Mile End library. This space is fully accessible and has the following assistive technologies:

• Height adjustable desk
• Ergonomic chair
• Customizable light brightness
• Sound dampening

The pod is available for all library users when it is not booked. Eligible DDS students should ensure they have made a booking via LibCal to secure the space.

If you have a booking and find that someone is in the space during the allocated time, you may inform them that you have booked the space or ask staff at the Welcome Desk to do this on your behalf.

Please find our directions to the space on our Accessing Library Buildings webpage.

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