Reference Department Disabilities Assistance Policy

According to the American Library Association's (ALA) Library Services for People With
Disabilities Policy, as public service providers, libraries must make reasonable efforts to give
disabled people the same access to information, programs and resources enjoyed by those
who are not disabled. Libraries may volunteer readers, technology assistance, public
telephones, TTYs, Braille signs, and different formats of accessing information. 

The Charles W. Chesnutt Library at Fayetteville State University is committed to providing
equal access to all library resources and collections for all library patrons. Chesnutt Library’s
policy is to provide, whenever possible, arrangements that enable library patrons with
disabilities to work independently. Where independent use of library services and collections
are difficult, Chesnutt Library will make provisions, as needed, to facilitate access and use of
the Library’s resources and collections. Chesnutt Library will work with the Center for
Personal Development, Disabled Student Services at FSU, and is committed to upholding the
letter and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Library staff will attempt to provide immediate and effective assistance to persons with
disabilities who request assistance on site or via the telephone.  If immediate assistance is
not possible or is not sufficient to meet the students’ needs an appointment will be offered for
further assistance.  Persons with disabilities are given the option of having the information
mailed, emailed, or faxed to them.  Provisions for immediate retrieval and photocopying of
library materials for persons with disabilities will be done if staff is available.  Persons with
disabilities are required to pay for any charges incurred in photocopying or printing. 

Facilities

 Library Accessibility

The Library is wheelchair accessible at the first floor entrance.  The center door is automatic
for the convenience of patrons with special needs.

Parking

There are handicapped parking spaces available in the gated parking lot located in the front
of the Library.  A parking permit and access card are needed for this area between 8:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

There are handicapped parking spaces located in Lot W which is beside and behind the
Library and the School of Business and Economics.

Elevator

All floors of the Library are accessible by an elevator located on the first floor near the
Reference Desk.  If assistance is needed, please see staff on the first floor at the Reference
Desk or the Circulation Desk.

Restrooms

All floors of the Library have restrooms that are handicapped accessible.

Telephones

There is no public pay phone located in the Library, but all patrons have limited and
emergency access to phones located at the Circulation or Reference Desk.

Adaptive Technology

There are wheelchair accessible workstations located throughout the library.

There is a workstation available on the third floor of the Library that has JAWS, a screen
reading program that runs on a computer. If you have low vision or are blind, JAWS provides
voice output for the contents of your computer screen.

There is a text magnification instrument available on the first floor in the Reference area

Services

The following services will be provided to persons with disabilities by the Reference or
Circulation Departments.  These services are based upon the availability of staff at
the time of the visit, unless an appointment has been made in advance.  If service
can not be immediately provided, efforts will be made to ensure that services are
rendered in a timely fashion.  Lists of items needed with call numbers or journal
articles with complete citations would ensure timeliness.  All services requiring
payment are the responsibility of the patron.

• Assist in locating or finding information for the patron in-person, over the telephone,
  or by appointment.

• Assist in locating or finding information for the patron's assistant in-person, over the
  telephone, or by appointment.

• Assistance in pulling Reference materials or materials located in the main stacks
  once the call numbers and volume numbers are identified.

• Assistance in pulling materials in the media center, government documents, and
  archives once the call number is identified, and if staff is not available in those areas
  during regularly scheduled hours.

• Provide access to Reserve resources located online and at the Circulation Desk.

• Provide bibliographic instruction sessions for classes and for individuals by
  appointment.

• Provide extended interlibrary loan periods for persons with disabilities who require
  additional time.

• Provide access to, or assistance with, computers, microfilm and microfiche readers
  and other equipment.

• Assist patrons and their assistants with photocopying as staffing allows.  Photocopies
  are .08 cents per page.  Patrons must know the necessary page numbers of books
  and citations to journal articles for the items they need photocopied.

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Charles W. Chesnutt Library, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, N.C. 28301
Page Maintained By: Jan S. Whitfield jwhitfield@uncfsu.edu
Last Updated: 2/1/06