Commoms Accessibility Centre

UNB Libraries' Services for Persons with Disabilities

If you have a disability that limits your use of campus libraries or library resources, we invite you to contact any library staff member. We will be happy to help! Librarians and library staff are available to assist with:

  • Access to assistive technology;
  • Advice about choosing and using information sources, in print and online;
  • Specialized research help—for theses, dissertations, and major reports;
  • Retrieval of items from the stacks or storage;
  • Assistance with photocopying or scanning;
  • Extension of reserve loan borrowing period;
  • Information on how to access UNB Libraries' resources from off-campus;
  • Tour of a branch or unit.

If you are unable to contact or visit with us in person, you may wish to contact us by phone, email, or online via instant messaging. For more information, including contact information and hours of service, visit Ask Us.

For more information, contact:
Fredericton
Andrew Daley (Assistive Technologist, HIL Accessibility Centres): (506) 447-3377 or adaley@unb.ca
Saint John
Rob Pafford (Assistive Technology Support Technician, HWK Commons): (506) 648-5840 or robert.pafford@unb.ca

Building Accessibility

The Harriet Irving Library is located at 5 MacAulay Lane. The main entrance to HIL includes a ramp and automatic door, providing barrier-free access to the building. Wheelchair accessible washrooms are also provided.

The Science and Forestry Library is located on the ground level of the Integrated University Complex (IUC) concourse. A barrier-free entrance, including ramp and automatic door, is located at the entrance nearest the Geology Building.

The Engineering Library, located in Room HC15 (C level) of Sir Edmund Head Hall, is also wheelchair accessible. To visit the Engineering Library, users of wheelchairs are advised to enter Head Hall using the main entrance on Dineen Drive. Other accessible entrances to Head Hall include the pedestrian entrance (B level) by the Loading Bay and the entrance to Gillan Hall near the bus stop on Windsor Street. Please note that, while the A level parking lot has spaces reserved for users with disabilities, the A level entrance does not currently have a ramp. Accessible washrooms are located in Gillan Hall.

Located on the Saint John campus, the Hans W. Klohn Commons' main entrance is wheelchair accessible. As well, there is an elevator serving all floors for easy access to all materials and services. If you have any questions, please contact the circulation desk at (506) 648-5710.

Most of our library stacks are wide enough to accommodate persons in wheelchairs. If you have any difficulty accessing the stacks, please ask staff for help in retrieving materials.

Wheelchair-accessible parking is provided near each library. See the map of wheelchair-accessible parking on the Fredericton campus and the Saint John campus for locations.

Assistive Technology

UNB Libraries has worked with the Student Accessibility Centre to provide a range of assistive software, equipment, and associated support for students with disabilities.

UNB Fredericton

There are two Accessibility Centres located in the Harriet Irving Library. HIL facilities include workstations with large-screen monitors, scanners (including a large-format, high-speed scanning station), USB headphones, height-adjustable tables, and an electronic video magnifier (CCTV). In addition to Microsoft Office 2007, installed software includes:

  • Kurzweil 3000 and 1000 (scanner/readers) Mac and PC
  • JAWS (screen reader) PC
  • ZoomText (screen magnifier) PC
  • Magnifier for Macintosh
  • Dragon NaturallySpeaking (speech recognition) PC
  • MacSpeech Dictate (Speech Recognition) Mac
  • Inspiration (mind and concept mapping) Mac and PC

There is one accessible workstation located in the Science and Forestry Library that has a large-screen monitor, an electronic video magnifier (CCTV), and a scanner with paper feeder; the software installed includes MS Office, Kurzweil 3000 (scanner), and ZoomText (screen magnifier).

There is one study carrel designated for users with wheelchairs in the Engineering Library.

In all UNB Libraries, staff will be pleased to assist users in retrieving materials and with operating copiers, scanners, etc. If you require technical assistance during your visit to any of these locations, speak with a library staff member or contact Andrew Daley, UNBF Libraries' Assistive Technologist. Send questions or request an appointment for individual training sessions related to assistive technology by sending an e-mail to the Commons Accessibility Centre cac@unb.ca; alternately, contact Andrew Daley directly:

Andrew Daley
Assistive Technologist, Coordinator
John B. McNair Learning Commons
Harriet Irving Library
UNB Fredericton
Fredericton, NB
Tel: (506) 447-3377
Email: adaley@unb.ca
Appointments: cac@unb.ca

UNB Saint John

At UNB Saint John, a PC computer is set aside on the Ground Floor of the Hans W. Klohn Commons, right next to the BMO Smart Classroom. It has Internet access, a scanner, and a height-adjustable desk. In addition to Microsoft Office 2007, the following software is installed:

  • Kurzweil 3000
  • Dragon Naturally Speaking (speech recognition) [headphones required]
  • OpenText (screen enlarger)
  • Jaws (screen reader)
  • Inspiration
  • Clearview Text Enlarger from Optelec (enlarges print media)

This PC has a scanner attached and has Internet access. There is also a networked printer available on the same floor.

A PC with the same software is available in the Learning Technology Centre (room G208, Oland Hall), which is independent of the HWK Commons. Use of this lab requires booking an appointment with the Student Accessibility Services Centre.

At UNB Saint John, if you require technical assistance during your visit to any of these locations, speak with a library staff member or contact Rob Pafford, UNBSJ Libraries' Assistive Technology Support Technician. Rob is also available for individual training sessions related to assistive technology.

Rob Pafford
Assistive Technology Support Technician
Hans W. Klohn Commons
UNB Saint John
Saint John, NB
Tel: (506) 648-5840
Email: robert.pafford@unb.ca

University Services for Students with Disabilities

UNB Fredericton

Visit the Student Accessibility Centre website or contact the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities in person (Marshall d'Avray Hall, Rm 212, UNB Fredericton Campus), by phone (506) 453-3515, or by email at UNBDS@unb.ca for more services available to UNB students with disabilities. Additionally, faculty and staff can find information about Accessibility Services, such as New Exam Procedures.

UNB Saint John

For information about services available to students attending the Saint John campus of UNB, consult the answers to frequently asked questions in the UNBSJ Accessibility Brochure, visit the Services for Students with Disabilities website, or contact Brenda Wright, Accessibility Counsellor, Student Services (in person at Philip W. Oland Hall, Room G35, by phone (506) 636-6260, or by e-mail at sjaccess@unb.ca) or Treva Colpitts at Student Services (in person at Philip W. Oland Hall, Room G08, by phone (506) 648-5501, or by email at trevac@unb.ca).

St. Thomas University, Fredericton

Students of St. Thomas University are strongly encouraged to register with Student Affairs by contacting Marina Nedashkivska, Coordinator of Services for Student Accessibility, in person (James Dunn Hall, G4 or 211), by phone (453-7207), or by email (marina@stu.ca) and to visit the Students with Disabilities website.

Other Information Centres

  • The Canadian National Institute for the Blind offers access to qualified individuals to VISUNET Canada a networked library service which delivers books in alternate formats by mail or to the user's desktop.
  • The New Brunswick Public Library Service offers access to format alternatives in its branch libraries across the province. This includes talking books, audio books, books in braille and large print books. Visit the NBPLS list of branches by community to find the public library closest to you.
  • Easter Seals New Brunswick provides a free library and information service that offers material to health professionals and the general public. The collection includes videos, hand-outs, publications, books and special reports which are sent upon request if the individual is unable to visit the library. The focus of the collection is rehabilitation and disability related topics.
  • The Premier's Council on the Status of Disabled Persons maintains a library on subjects related to persons with disabilities and on appropriate services/programs available to them. In addition, the Premier's Council maintains a Directory of Services Offered to Persons with Disabilities in New Brunswick.

Web Accessibility

UNB Libraries endeavour to follow web accessibility standards on all the pages designed in-house. The current website has been tested with JAWS and WindowEyes screen readers, ZoomText, and text-only browsers. For more information, please consult our accessibility statement. Should you have any difficulty with one of our web pages, please contact our Website Administrator, Jeff Carter, at jjc@unb.ca to report the problem.