Library Accessibility Services

Requests can be made at any point in the semester, but it is recommended that you contact the Alternate Format Specialist 4-6 weeks before the semester in which the alternate format is required. Staff are committed to providing students with their preferred format in a timely manner; however, we cannot guarantee that students will receive alternate format materials within the timelines required for their courses because of external factors beyond our control.

Students with a print disability referred from Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) may request course materials in alternate format. Our staff works with students, faculty, and the Campus Bookstore to locate textbooks and reading materials for each course. The required materials can be digitized, transcribed, or requested from publishers and digital text repositories in PDF, Microsoft Word, large print, audio, e-Pub, or braille.

Student Responsibilities

Students with a print disability referred from Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) for alternate format must:

• Provide course selections (course codes, titles, section numbers, and preferred text formats) to staff as soon as registration opens. 
• Promptly notify staff of changes in course selections that will impact alternate format text requirements (e.g., dropping/adding courses), or if your required readings change.
• Provide proof of purchase for course texts/readers.
• Sign E-File Statement Agreements and following any publisher and copyright restrictions on alternate format materials (e.g. agree not to reproduce or redistribute the material).

Patrons with a print disability may request print library materials in alternate format. Students with a print disability who wish to digitize their own materials may do so at the scanners provided for patron use in the Adaptive Technology Centre, in accordance with section 32 of the Canadian Copyright Act.

Library Accessibility Services staff can provide alternate formats of course and library materials by acquiring materials from publishers and databases or by creating the materials in-house. There are repositories available for patrons with print disabilities to discover alternate formats of library materials independently. 

Accessible Content E-Portal (ACE)

• Accessible Content E-Portal (ACE) is a repository of accessible format texts available to users with print disabilities at participating Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) institutions. 
• The repository is a good resource for print library material that has already been digitized.
• Alternate formats can include PDF, DAISY, TXT and ePUB.
• Please provide staff with as much information as possible about the book you are requesting.
• A unique token (password) is required to use the ACE repository. Tokens are available by emailing library.atc@queensu.ca.  Tokens are valid for four academic years or for your time at Queen’s, whichever comes first.

HathiTrust

Queen’s University Library is a member of HathiTrust. Faculty, students, and staff have access to a digital archive of over 3 million items from research libraries around the world. Queen's Library is able to provide access to most items in the HathiTrust Digital Library to users who have a print disability via the HathiTrust Accessible Text Request Service. If you would like to request a HathiTrust item, please email us at library.atc@queensu.ca. We will place a request on your behalf.