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Cambridge University Library

 
Reader Services Desk in the Entrance Hall

Cambridge University Libraries are committed to providing equal access to our services and facilities for all users in all libraries. Most of the information on these pages relates to the University Library, West Road building. For information about the accessibility of other libraries it is best to contact the library directly. Contact details are available via the Cambridge Libraries Directory.

For further information about accessibility and disability across the Cambridge library network please see our Cambridge Libraries: accessibility & disability LibGuide.

Services at the University Library, West Road Building

Proxy Borrowing

If you would like to have someone else borrow books on your behalf, please contact readerservices@lib.cam.ac.uk.

Items that are usually not borrowable

Parts of the Library’s non-special collection material are not borrowable. Wherever possible, the Library will issue items that are usually not borrowable to disabled users who have borrowing rights. For material from the Library Storage Facility (LSF) it may be more difficult. Please contact disability@lib.cam.ac.uk for advice on whether a non-borrowable item may be borrowed.

Click & Collect

Current staff, postgraduate students and undergraduates registered with the Disability Resource Centre can use the Click & Collect service to borrow books. You may request up to five items at a time.

One-to-one library training and advice

We can provide you with a bespoke training or consultation session to help you to make best use of the Library. This service is available via Teams or Zoom or in person. Please contact disability@lib.cam.ac.uk for more information.

Alternative formats

If the Library holds a copy of a book, journal or other work in a format which is not accessible to you, please contact disability@lib.cam.ac.uk. We may be able to obtain or make an accessible alternate format for you using the copyright exception for disability. This is usually a digital version provided by the publisher or RNIB Bookshare. We require as much advance notice as possible; turnaround times can vary depending on the publisher and can be as little as 24 hours or up to 10 weeks.

Alternatively, if you have a digital resource that needs converting/making accessible, you can try using SensusAccess, a self-service online tool for current staff and students.

Further assistance

You can find other ways that the University Library supports disabled users on these pages. If you have any questions, please contact disability@lib.cam.ac.uk and we will do our best to help.

The University Library is not currently able to deliver resources through the post, but you are most welcome to set up a proxy borrowing arrangement to allow someone to collect books on your behalf. 

 

Contact us

e-mail: disability@lib.cam.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 333030

AccessAble Cambridge University Library access guide

Detailed access guides for the UL, the Moore Library and most faculty and departmental libraries are available via the University of Cambridge AccessAble site.