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Our services: Accessibility and Support: Disability Support in the Library

Disability support in the Library

We have a dedicated team within University Library and Collections to support students and staff with library-related queries, concerns or requests regarding accessibility and more specific disability support requirements. 

Services for users with registered with Disability Support 

We want our libraries to be as accessible as possible and aim to offer a personal service based on your individual needs. This may include any of the following:   

  • Access to the Disability Support (DS) Study Rooms available in Bill Bryson Library and ISC Library, Stockton
  • Extension of 3-Day Loan periods to 5 days (these items are not renewable) 
  • Retrieving item(s) from the shelves and/or other Library and Collections sites 
  • Postal loans 
  • Checking your reading list on our library catalogue, Discover, either with you or on your behalf
  • Accompanying you to the relevant area of the Library for your subject and familiarising you with the contents and layout   
  • Providing reading material in alternative formats (e.g. print copies/scans)
  • One-to-one assistance and inductions 
  • Allocating a member of library staff to be your personal contact throughout your studies  

Disability Support (DS) Study Rooms 

You can book a Disability Support (DS) Room at Bill Bryson Library. These are individual study rooms, available to students and staff registered with the University’s Disability Support Service. 

  • There are four rooms available, located on Level 1 West Wing of the Library.
  • You can book up to 20 hours per week in these rooms (in addition to any other bookable study spaces and rooms) and bookings can be made up to two weeks in advance. 
  • Details of available timeslots and booking limits for our Disability Support Study Rooms are on our Space Bookings system. 
  • If you have a support worker, they can sign in as a visitor or apply for a visitor Campus Card at our Help and Information Desk. More information can be found on our Information for Visitors webpages

For information on Disability Support Rooms available at ISC Library, please visit our dedicated guide.


Booking a Study Room 

To book a Disability Support Study Room, you will need to use our Space Booking system which you can access by using your University login details. For more information on using the system and to watch a helpful video guide, visit our Study Space guide.  

If you need any help booking a room, you can contact us through our live chat service or by emailing library.disabilitysupport@durham.ac.uk 


What is in the Disability Support Study Rooms?

All DS study rooms are equipped with the following:

  • wireless technology
  • networked PCs with 22” screen
  • height adjustable desks
  • adaptable chairs
  • adjustable footrests
  • adaptable lighting and blinds.

Details of other equipment available in each room are provided below. For details of additional equipment available to borrow, visit our Facilities and Equipment page.

Equipment available in each Disability Support Study Room
Room Equipment available
DS Room 1                                             Kneeling stool
Document holder
DS Room 2

Power-assisted door
Document holder
Angle poise lamp

PC has the following assistive technology installed:

  • Text Help Read and Write
  • Inspiration
  • JAWS for Windows
  • Mind View
  • Dragon Naturally Speaking
    Please contact the IT Service Desk to set up access with Dragon. (You will need to provide your own headset or borrow one from the Help and Information Desk.)
DS Room 3

Power-assisted door
Kneeling stool
Document holder
Angle poise lamp

DS Room 4 Kneeling stool
Document holder
Angle poise lamp
Contact details
Bill Bryson Library
Durham University Library
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LY

Tel: +44 (0)191 334 2967

ISC Library  
Queen's Campus, Stockton  
University Boulevard  
Thornaby  
Stockton-on-Tees  
TS17 6BH  

Tel: +44 (0)191 334 0270 

Email: library.disabilitysupport@durham.ac.uk

A student using a computer on a height adjustable desk

A hand holding a magnifying ruler over pages in a book

A student sitting at a desk using a kneeling seat and working on a laptop