Campus 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 the 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 (Coordinator, Commons Accessibility Centre): (506) 447-3377 or adaley@unb.ca
James MacKenzie (Library Liaison for Students with Disabilities): (506) 458-7058 or jmackenz@unb.ca

Saint John

Cora Higgins (Circulation Desk, Ward Chipman Library): (506) 648-5703 or higginsc@unb.ca

Building Accessibility

The Harriet Irving Library’s main entrance 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. A barrier-free entrance, including ramp and automatic door, is located at the entrance nearest the Geology Building. Staff are willing to help anyone having difficulty accessing the library or its materials.

The Engineering Library, located on the first floor of Sir Edmund Head Hall, is also wheelchair accessible.

The Ward Chipman Library’s main entrance is not wheelchair accessible. To arrange for elevator access to the library, please contact the circulation desk at 648-5710. There is a direct line to the circulation desk in the Associated Alumni Student Study Lounge, on ground level directly below the library.

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 for locations.

Assistive Technology

The Harriet Irving Library’s Commons Accessibility Centre is equipped with 3 PCs, large screen monitors, scanners, an overhead magnifier, USB headphones and height adjustable tables. The Science and Forestry Library is also equipped with one PC with a large monitor and scanner. Both locations have a variety of specialized assistive software, including:

  • Kurzweil 3000 and 1000 (scanner/readers)
  • JAWS (screen reader)
  • ZoomText (screen magnifier, at Harriet Irving Library only).
  • Dragon NaturallySpeaking (speech recognition, at Harriet Irving Library only).
  • Inspiration (mind and concept mapping, at Harriet Irving Library only).

If you require technical assistance during your visit to any of these locations, speak with a library staff member or contact the Commons Accessibility Centre’s coordinator. You can send questions or make an appointment for individual training sessions related to assistive technology by sending an e-mail to adaley@unb.ca.

Web Accessibility

UNB Libraries endeavor 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 to report the problem.

University Services for Students with Disabilities

Visit the Student Accessibility Centre website or contact the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities at (506) 453-3515 for additional services available to UNB students with disabilities.

For information about services available to UNBSJ students, visit the Services for Students with Disabilities website or contact Student Services at (506) 648-5501 or trevac@unbsj.ca.

Students of St. Thomas University may visit the STU Student Affairs website or contact Student Affairs at (506) 452-0616.

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.