Where are the accessible study spaces? 

These spaces are located on the ground floor of the Arts and Social Sciences Library 

What is in these spaces? 

Accessible Technology Room (ATR)

The Accessible Technology Room (ATR) is a bookable shared study room for individual silent study. It houses PCs with software and adjustable furniture and ergonomic equipment.

• 6 PCs
• Height Adjustable tables
• Ergonomic chairs 
• Adjustable monitor arms
• JAWS software
• Auto-door 
• CCTV magnifier
• Height adjustable colour printer/scanner 
• Silent study 

Current occupancy levels in line with Covid safety is 7 people. 

Accessible (Group) Study Room (ASR)

The Accessible (Group) Study Room (ASR) is a bookable room which is for individual or shared study.

• PC
• Ergonomic chairs 
• Adjustable monitor arm
• JAWS software
• Dragon dictation software
• Auto-door 
• Individual study or share with one other person 

Current occupancy levels in line with Covid safety is 2 people.  

How do I access these spaces? 

These spaces are priortised for users with: sensory impairments or mobility difficulties. You will need to use your UCard to access these spaces when you arrive for your booking - it takes approximately 24 hours for your UCard to be enabled for access once requested. 

You will need to press the exit button in the room to get out as the door cannot be manually operated. Please let us know if would like a quick tour of these spaces and if you have any questions regarding this. Please tell us about any access requirements you have and if you want to discuss a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP). This is to ensure you can leave the building safely in an emergency. 

Can I share the accessible study spaces with a study buddy or study support worker? 

Only the Accessible (Group) Study Room (ASR) is suitable to share with another person. Please ensure that you have arranged library access via Library Support for any study support worker who does not have Ucard access.    

How do I book? 

You can book up to 10 slots in the above spaces per week, equivalent to 20 hours (Sunday to Saturday).

Please see information below: How to book a Library Support space or visit: https://librarybookings.bristol.ac.uk/reserve/library-support-study-room-bookings 

Low-distraction, private study rooms first floor ASSL 

The Library Support first floor study spaces are only available to students who are registered with our service. These spaces are for students with a disability or learning difficulty who require a low-distraction or private study option.  

We expect demand for these rooms to be very high. Booking times will be limited to a fixed amount per week so you will need to plan your study activities around this and consider alternative options for study. 

Booking limits and availability of Library Support study spaces

You can book up to 10 slots of study space per week, equivalent to 20 hours (Sunday to Saturday). This will be reviewed depending on demand.

Please see the Arts and Social Sciences Library opening hours:  

What is in these spaces?

These spaces offer a different type of study space to allow for a low-distraction, private option. Some of our spaces have PCs and scanners.  Check the description of the seat at the time of booking to ensure that it matches what you need. Please see information above regarding our ground floor accessible spaces if required.  

Can I share the first floor rooms with a study buddy or study support worker? 

Only the Meet and Speak room is suitable to share with another person. Please be aware that all other first floor rooms are not sound proofed and will disrupt others studying around you. Please ensure that you have arranged library access via Library Support for any study support worker who does not have Ucard access.    

How to book a Library Support space

You need to register with Library Support.  

To book a study seat visit: 

https://librarybookings.bristol.ac.uk/reserve/library-support-study-room-bookings 

• Bookable slots will be 2 hours long, with some variation to factor in opening/closing times.
• Seats can be booked up to two weeks in advance. 

Once you have submitted your booking it will be reviewed by library staff to ensure eligibility.

You will receive a booking confirmation via email.

If your booking has not been confirmed before arrival you will need to contact staff at the Welcome Desk to get your booking reviewed and confirmed. 

I want to book a seat in a non-library support space as well

You will need to make any library-wide or study centre bookings you need first before booking library support spaces.

If you wish to study in a subject specific library or in a study centre then please use the Library Services booking system. You must book a specific seat in advance. We are unable to offer walk-in access for study space. We advise users to book their library wide spaces first as if you do it the other way around, the booking system subtracts the Library Support hours from your total. 

On the day of your seat booking

Pick up the key from the Information Desk

• Please collect key from the Information Desk (ground floor- ASSL) when you arrive for your study session to unlock your booked room.  
• Don't forget to return key at the end of your booking. 

Cancel your booking

We ask that you cancel your booking if you are unable to make the slot. This will release availability for other students to use it.   If you do not cancel your booking you will lose this proportion of your weekly booking allocation. 

End of the booking

Seats must be vacated promptly at the end of each booking. You are responsible for cleaning the desk you have used prior to check out. Cleaning stations are available in each study area. 

If you have chosen to have your study support in the library or need access for a practical support worker:

Please ensure that:

• Your support worker will have access to the library
• You have booked a suitable space to meet (if required).

Please ensure that your support worker will have access to the library

Access to University of Bristol Library is by Ucard only. This is to ensure that our libraries are safe, and we can manage the numbers entering the building.

• Get an Accompanied Access Letter to facilitate access to the library for your named support worker.
  • If your support worker does not have a Ucard then please contact Library Support to arrange for an Accompanied Access Letter – this can be saved on to your phone and you can show it to staff to  ensure smooth access for your named support worker to accompany you into the library.
  • Access between 8am and 8pm until a fixed date as agreed by you (usually an academic year, after which it will need to be updated).

Please ensure you have a booked a suitable place to meet in the library

Study support sessions must not be carried out in areas of the library where it is likely to disturb or inconvenience other users and must not be carried out in silent/quiet study spaces or rooms.

• We have two rooms in the library which are better sound-proofed or are better located to allow the use of dictation software,  these spaces are also suitable to share with a peer learner or with a person providing study support.
  • These spaces are in high demand  
  • Rooms can only be booked by students who have registered with the Library Support service. The registration process allows us to assess library access needs.
  • Rooms can be booked up to 2 weeks in advance.
  • If the rooms suitable to meet with a Support Worker are not available (if they have been booked by other users) then please see the university wide: Find a room resource. This can help you to find other spaces to meet outside of the library which may better meet your needs. There is further information regarding how this works: study spaces/live learning spaces 
    

Unaccompanied library access for a support worker

We can also provide access for unaccompanied access- this is where a support worker may need access to the library to collect books or scan items on your behalf. Please contact Library Support to set this up.

What are extended loans? 

We recognise that some users can be disadvantaged by a shorter loan period. The extended loan period gives you the added reassurance that you can keep the book for 14 days from issue as opposed to the usual 7 days to plan your study.  

How do I set these up?

We can set up your library account to automatically extend the loan period when a book is issued.   Please indicate your requirement for this in the apply to register form (top right of this page, green box).

Does the loan period get extended each time it is renewed?    

Yes, if your book does not get requested by another user then your item will automatically renew for another 14 days so you can be reassured you have it to read and plan your study for another 14 days.

How do I know when I have to return the book?

You will receive an email if your book gets requested by another library user. You will receive the email at the end of the 14-day loan period on the due date and you will need to return the item within 7 days. This called the 7 day grace period. 

What should I do if I can’t return my book within the 7 day grace period?

Please let a member of staff know as soon as possible as we do apply blocks to your library account.

Who are extended loans for? 

• Disabled learners
• Dyslexic learners
• Part time learners (automatically applied) 
• Some distance-based users

Please see use the library to see more information regarding how to borrow a book, automatic renewals and how to reserve books and journals.

What is the book retrieval service? 

If your time on campus is limited or if the library and shelves are inaccessible, we can have books ready for you to collect at your selected library. We can transfer books to any of our staffed libraries to collect at the Information Desk. 

A maximum of five books/journals can be requested at one time. 

We anticipate requests taking up to five working days to process. 

How do I order books? 

Please use the Get books, get scans, get photocopies form (top right, blue box). 

Who can use this service?

Any registered user to support access to print resources where time on campus is limited. Disabled students may also nominate a person to collect books on their behalf. 

I'd like to browse the shelves, is there help available to find books?

Contact us or ask any library staff member to help you find and locate books directly from the shelves. We have roving staff who can help. We can also support you to help yourself by providing quick guides to finding books on the shelf and a brief tour of your subject areas in the library. 

Scan and email service

If you are unable to come to campus or if the library is inaccessible we can scan and email the book chapter or journal article you need. 

• It is your responsibility to be aware of and follow copyright conditions.
• We only send scans to a University of Bristol email address.  

eBooks and eJournals 

We do not scan materials if they are available online such as eBooks and eJournals.  We ask that you check online availability before you place the order via Library Search. Your Subject Librarian may be able to purchase an eBook if we do not currently hold one. Please see: suggest a book purchase 

How do I order scans?  

Please use the Get books, get scans, get photocopies form (top right, blue box). 

How long does it take? 

We anticipate requests taking up to five working days to process although this can vary. 

How much does it cost? 

It is a free service. 

Who can use this service?

• Disabled students where there are access requirements

Students who live outside of Bristol and are:

• on a placement
• research postgraduates 
• distance learner (conditions apply)

I want help to use the scanner and printer in a library

We can support any library user to help yourself by providing quick a guide to using our scanners and printers. Contact us to arrange a time or you can ask a library staff member to help you

I am print disabled and require printed materials in a digitised format. Do I order scans via this route? 

No there are different copyright restrictions. Please use our alternative format service. There is further information here. 

Book postal service

If you are unable to come to campus or if the library is inaccessible we can post books to your home or work address. Normal loan policies apply. If a book is requested by another user you may have to return it by post.

A maximum of five books/journals can be requested at one time.

eBooks

We do not post books out if they are available as eBooks. We ask that you check online availability of the books before you place the order via Library Search and with your Subject Librarian as they may be able to purchase an eBook if we do not currently hold one. Please see: suggest a book purchase 

How do I order books for postage?  

Please use the Get books, get scans, get photocopies form (top right, blue box).

We use first class recorded delivery so you or an assigned person will need to be in to sign for/take collection of the book(s) on delivery. 

How long does it take? 

We anticipate requests taking up to five working days to process although this can vary during the Covid-19 situation as due to quarantine guidelines books can be unavailable for up to 72 hours before we process your request. 

How much does it cost? 

It is a free service. Please remember that you may need to return the book if it gets requested by another user and this cost is not covered by our postage service.  Books on loan to you do remain your responsibility. Please always return books using a trackable service in case of missing items. 

Who can use this service? 

• disabled students where there are access requirements

Students who live outside of Bristol and are:

• on a placement
• research postgraduates 
• distance learner (conditions apply) 

We cannot support the following students:

Please contact your School.

• students who are studying online only 

What is the Alternative Format service? 

Library Support can provide alternative formats for disabled students who cannot access essential reading from your Reading List for materials provided by the library.  We can work with you to support your access to resources via:

• Assistive Technology (AT) may include read aloud software and/or coloured overlays
• Longer loan period of a print book
• Purchase of a digital copy
• Using Sensus Access to convert short documents into more accessible formats such as: MP3 audio, Word, Braille, and e-books

Where library resources cannot be made accessible via the above routes, we will try to obtain an accessible copy via RNIB BookShare or directly from the Publisher.

If we have been unable to source an alternative format which meets your requirements (within an agreed timeframe) then at this point, we would discuss with you the next possible steps:

• Finding a substitute title
• Scanning parts of a book
• Scanning a whole book (it can take up to 4 weeks to scan and edit a whole book)

This might involve discussion with yourself, an academic contact in your School and your Subject Librarian. 

Before you make a request

• Contact us or apply to register with Library Support using our online form
• We will discuss with you how best to meet your requirements
• Please check Library Search to see which of your resources are already provided in as eBooks. Please see accessibility information provided on the eBook library page. 
• Where resources are required for a dissertation or for independent research then managing this would need to be discussed in the early stages of the research process as it can take up to 4 weeks to scan and edit whole books. Please contact your Subject Librarian to discuss your requirements first.