Support for students and staff with disabilities: Home

There is one central Library building on campus, open 24 hours a day all year, including all national holidays.  

The Library's staffed services are generally available Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm. 

University Reception on Level 2 is staffed 24 hours a day by members of the Security Service.  

There are wide automatic sliding doors at the Library entrance, then gates into the Library which swing open when your Library card is placed on their sensor. Reception staff will open the adjacent, wider glass gate, on request. Inside the Library, there are three stairwells and a lift to all five floors.

If you have difficulty reaching books or journals on the shelves, Library staff will be happy to fetch these and put them aside for you to collect. Contact us with this query by email at library@bath.ac.uk.

If you are a University of Bath student with a support worker we can arrange for them to borrow books on your behalf. If your support worker does not have their own Library card, staff at the Issue Desk will provide them with an access-only card.

For enquiries about borrowing and fetching books, please email library@bath.ac.uk or call 01225 385000.

If you find it difficult to view the Library’s print or electronic resources, ask your Subject Librarian about alternative formats which can be provided.  You can find contact details for your subject librarian on the library webpages.   

• The University is providing access to a service called Sensus Access that will allow you to convert files, content from websites or text into a range of alternative formats, including audio, e-books and digital Braille. For further information visit Sensus Access 

For students who have a Disability Access Plan (DAP) that has identified the need for more accessible formats:

• The Library may be able to obtain essential reading resources in a more accessible format, such as PDF, directly from the publisher.
• We can also produce scans which are rendered accessible by an Optical Character Recognition process that works with most screen readers. Unfortunately, this process does not work on mathematical or scientific equations, formulae or symbols. Please make Library staff aware if you require alternative formats for this type of content.
• Alternatively, all the scan/copy/print machines in Copy and Print on Level 2 of the Library can produce free PDF scans. Staff at the Copy & Print point will be happy to help if you need assistance.

There are networked computers on all floors of the Library and the entire building is wireless-enabled. Students registered with the Disability Service may also be able to borrow equipment such as a laptop, audio recorder or visualiser, for short or longer term loan. All computers and laptops have a range of assistive software installed, including speech-to-text, mind mapping and screen-reading utilities available to all students.  

The Library in collaboration with the Assistive Technology Team have opened Assistive Technology Rooms for students:

• Room 2.10b
• Room 2.10c

You can find these spaces at the back of Level 2 of the Library.

Both rooms are equipped with:

• Automatic doors (requiring your library card for access)
• Ergonomic workstations with height adjustable desks and ergonomic chairs
• Computers with position adjustable, standard or touchscreen monitors and Assistive Technology Software
• Networked, low level colour printers/scanners
• Additional space for students wishing to use their own laptops
• Dimmable lights
• Whiteboards

In Room 2.10b, students can additionally access:

• A Braille Embosser,
• An electronic magnifier
• A Projector
• Room Access

You can request access to the AT Room by contacting the University’s Disability Service, emailing disabilityadvice@bath.ac.uk or calling 01225 383838.

If you are a student or member of staff and you feel you need access to the room, but you do not have a disability or a medical condition and have other reasons why you need access, please contact the Assistive Technology Team via the Self Service Portal.

Book your space
Please make sure you book your space via the University bookable study space. If you require a carer or support worker’s assistance, we encourage you to use room 2.10b.

You can find further information or request advice and support with assistive technology via Student Services in 6 West or via the webpages for Assistive Technology. 

The Disability Service has opened a new sensory room in the Library for the use of students with a disability.

What is the sensory room?
The sensory room provides a quiet, sensory friendly space for individuals on campus. There are also two smaller adjoining rooms, which are bookable spaces intended for 1:1 support sessions.

The space contains various seating options and sensory items including colour changing mood cubes, soft flooring, and large oversized cushions. There are also two floor lamps that give soft lighting if needed.

Students who have been granted access to the room are welcome to use the sensory room and its equipment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Where is the room?
The sensory room is located on the third floor of the Library in room 3.10. The room itself is not a bookable space, but the two smaller adjoining rooms, 3.10A and 3.10B are bookable spaces. Bookings can be made via the study space website.

How to access the room

Students need to be granted library card access to the room. This can be done via the Disability Support Coordinator team or by contacting Security directly during University closure periods.