Hertford College Library: Services for disabled readers

The Library aims to support all readers in using the collections, study spaces and staff support available at Hertford.  Any readers who would like to discuss how we can best support them are encouraged to contact the Librarian by phone on 01865 279409 or by email.

Library staff are here to provide introductory tours for new members and research skills support. Sessions can be organised to suit individual requirements.  You can contact library staff to request a session or to ask for support at any time during your studies at Hertford.

Readers with disabilities or learning difficulties are offered the following extended membership:

• Term time loans 4 weeks, renewable online via SOLO library catalogue or by emailing the Library
• Vacation loans for all of vacation, renewable online via SOLO library catalogue or by emailing the Library
• Overdue fines are not charged
• Book allowance as many as you like at once
• Renewals as many as you like as long as no one else has requested to use the book

Readers with a student support plan from the Disability Advisory Service will be given this membership.  Readers without a support plan or who are waiting for one to be created can contact the Librarian directly to update their membership.

Access to study spaces

The library's spaces are described on our study spaces page.  You can also see the layout of books and study spaces on our library map.

Hearing Loop

A portable hearing loop for use in the library can be provided by Hertford Lodge.

Bathrooms

There are no bathrooms in the library.  The nearest non-gendered bathrooms are about 50m away on the ground floor underneath the Dining Hall, step-free access to the toilets are available via the Porters' Lodge.  Another accessible bathroom is about 80m away in the OB1 staircase, accessed via a platform lift or 3 steps.

Food and drink in the library

Bottled water and drinks in KeepCups are allowed in the library.  Food may be consumed in the library if required for medical purposes and agreed with library staff.

Sometimes it's hard to get to resources that are housed in the Library.  If you are unable to access the Library then staff can arrange to deliver books to you.  Library staff can:

• deliver books to your pidge in the student post room or to the Lodge
• prepare books ready for collection by a support worker
• deliver books to another college site or Oxford library
• collect or return books on your behalf from other Oxford libraries

If you would like to request this service please contact the Library.  Staff will aim to fulfill requests by the end of the next working day.

We have lots of useful ergonomic equipment available in the Library.  You can see a full list on our equipment page.

Suggestions for new items are welcome!

The Library wellbeing and study skills book section is on the ground floor, just outside the Library Office.  It has a selection of books on study skills methods and self care books, which can be borrowed confidentially.  Suggestions for new books for this section are very welcome!