Knowing how to make the best use of the libraries and resources available to you during your studies is important. To help you, the libraries offer induction and orientation sessions and other types of training. Look out for further information from your college or faculty library or contact libraries directly for information. Staff will try to accommodate any accessibility needs that you may have in these sessions.

If you feel that you would benefit from a tailored or one-to-one session, please email the Libraries Accessibility Service or speak to your college or faculty/departmental library staff.

The Libraries Accessibility Service offers one-to-one tours of the University Library throughout the academic year and during the vacations. You can ask us for a tour at any point in your course, from Freshers' Week to final year to dissertation or thesis writing. It's never too late! 

To request a tour please email us in advance: disability@lib.cam.ac.uk. We have set aside the following blocks of time for tours and meetings with students (most tours last up to one hour):

If none of these times work for you, let us know. We will try to arrange something else.

What can I see on a tour?

We adapt our tours to your needs. On a typical tour we might:

• Meet outside the UL and enter the building together (we can look at step-free access routes)
• Show you how to swipe into the library with your student card
• Look at a range of study spaces, including private study spaces, more relaxed spaces and spaces that may not be covered by group tours
• Talk through any library rules or routines which concern you
• Talk about finding and ordering books

We always send a follow-up email with key information and links so you don't need to take notes unless you want to.

This online session is delivered in Michaelmas and Lent terms by the Libraries Accessibility Service. It is aimed at disabled students at any level of study. The session lasts 1.5 hours.

We will advertise the dates in the ADRC Newsletter early in both terms. Slides from the Lent term 2024 session are available below.

Learning objectives:

• Explore accessibility features on VLeBooks
• Explore an audio version of a journal article
• Find out about audiobooks available through O'Reilly for Higher Education
• Discover RNIB Bookshare, the Alternate Formats Service and the copyright exception for print disabled students
• Find out how to convert files to other formats using SensusAccess
• Have a list of free reading support and screenreader tools to try

This page last updated June 12th 2024

Information about buildings, services and facilities can go out of date quickly. If you discover any incorrect information on any of the websites linked from this page, please email disability@lib.cam.ac.uk. We will contact the site owners and ask them to update their pages.