[nabs-l] University Libraries

[Kaiti Shelton]

Hi, Derek and all,

Thanks for the feedback.  Thankfully my DS office isn't stingy, and
they usually give me the first few chapters of the book at the least
before I even have a chance to show proof of purchase because our
bookstore is notoriously bad about getting books in and they see it
useless for me to fall behind as long as I show proof of purchase at
some point.

I believe the professor purchased a copy on her own budget and is just
going to keep it in the library for her two sections to use.  Perhaps
I could even get her to give me her recipt or a letter explaining what
has happened and her course of action.  They would have needed to scan
things anyway if she only had the one textbook in the library, so she
and I both agree that the difference between me purchasing the book
and showing proof that there is a copy purchased by someone for the
class to use is trivial.  She's one of those profs that is totally
willing to help out, and like I mentioned she feels bad about
assigning a $300 textbook in the first place, so I'll check in with
her today while we still have a few chapters of the book on my
computer in case hiccups happen and this process takes more time.

If I catch my counselor today she may just be able to look the book up
in the library catalog.

Thanks for the suggestions, and I'll definitely be in touch if they
aren't enough to get the proof of purchase thing out of the way.
Hopefully one of them will be successful.

On 2/8/15, Ashley Bramlett via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Michael,
>
> Excellent topic!
>
> First for your specific situation, I suggest that you get the library staff
>
> or someone in dss to scan it for you.
> Actually, I kind of agree with the librarian, its impossible to make all
> material accessible, but not because of copyright issues, but due to the
> volume of books and other material in a library. I mean its thousands if not
>
> a million in a large university library.
> Also, the librarian is right about copyright. You cannot  copy a work with
> copyright on it still for everyone's use.
> I think that is why your librarians said we cannot copy x or y because of
> copyright.
>
> However, there is an exception. Because you have a disability, they can copy
>
> and produce the whole thing in alternate format for you.
> As others said, the chafee ammendment allows it.
>
> Another option that I've had to employ extensively is using the old
> fashioned human reader.
> I suggest you do likewise if you cannot get it scanned.
>
> Some rehab agencies pay for readers. I'd ask your vr counselor, if you have
>
> a case open, if they can pay for a reader for you.
>
> Now, for your general question of library access.
> It has been a mixed bag for me.
> In general, I use the library extensively. I use it for study purposes,
> using the accessible computer to do homework and research, meeting others to
>
> study, just relaxing if I need a quiet place to stay a little while such as
>
> after class before my ride comes, and also for research purposes.
> As you see, I use the library just as other students do but much of the time
>
> I'm not exactly using the library resources. I'm now taking electives at a
> community college called Nova as a shortened name standing for northern
> virginia community college.
> But I went to George mason university, GMU, and Marymount university, MU,
> for undergrad. I'll say some things first about my experience at all three
> places that relate to general use.
> My experience has been like other students as far as I can tell.
> All libraries have study rooms. I follow the procedures to get in them as
> other students which means I need a reservation at nova.
> This has been a great place to study with groups as well as other class prep
>
> such as working on group presentations and projects.
> I've also brought readers there to assist with access.
> I've also made a lot of use of the computer and not just for research. I can
>
> check email, do personal internet surfing, and
> check the college website for announcements. If you wonder why I do not just
>
> use my pc, well, because, the library was quieter, and in the dorm or living
>
> at home now, it can be noisier and distracting. I liked the quiet
> environment of the library.
> I think we all can use the library for many reasons like everyone else.
>
> Now as to specific research needs and completing work for papers.
> That is a big topic. Where do I even begin.
>
> I'll begin with librarians' assistance.
> At MU they were not real helpful. They give me vague instructions to go to
> the right database, but no instruction about
> searching the database. I don't recall Mu's catalog to find books being real
>
> accessible either.
> I always asked librarians to find books and explained what I  needed. They
> got the books for me.
> But not all books turned out to be relevant, and I do not know how much time
>
> they really spent searching.
> Mu reference librarians were nice and approachable except for one. I just
> don't think they went out of their way to be helpful.
> After explaining I needed more assistance and really wanted an appointment,
>
> I did get some assistance from  some reference associates and one librarian
>
> as I recall.
>
> After getting material from reference staff, I then checked them out at
> circulation like everyone else.
>
> At both the university settings and Nova, databases have been a huge
> obstacle. More on that at the end.
>
> Now, at Nova, I'll mention the librarians too.
> The librarians are good. They are patient, have excellent listening skills,
> and really seem to want to help you. I am at a little disadvantage in that I
>
> cannot see the screen as they demonstrate how to research. But, to help me,
>
> they explain what they are doing or if its not busy, they may even leave the
>
> desk and show me on the accessible pc.
> For retrieving books and other circulating items, they find it with me. They
>
> walk with me to the shelves and get the items.
> If I'm with a reader, they seem to want them to fetch the material, but I
> think I'll talk to them and see if I can get them to still do it as I do not
>
> think its my reader's job to find it.
>
> Some librarians are so helpful that they jot down things you need, and then
>
> look for it, and get back to you either in person or just emailing you the
> article or where to find it.
>
> Now, here is the negative side. Some of this I've mentioned in other threads
>
> but it got little traffic.
>
> Libraries are quite an inaccessible institution.
> I cannot access any hard copy material which is most of the library
> collection.
> No one will scan it for me, not that I've asked, but I know there is no one
>
> to do such a thing. Staff are stretched thin to serve the population that I
>
> cannot see them making time to scan anything.
> The only  way I access circulating items is with a human reader.
> I've had to pay readers out of pocket so fortunately my family is well off.
> I did not use vr because they pay so low.
> I try hard to determine whether an item is relevant so me and my reader do
> not waste too much time.
> Using a reader has been challenging because of reliability issues and
> schedules.
> All libraries have a wealth of scholarly books, periodicals, and reference
> material including encyclopedias.
> I have to have another human with me to access it.
>
> Nova even has lots of DVDS of documentaries and other educational things.
> I've used those on occasion if the story is fairly auditory.
>
> Moving onto electronic material.
> I've been rather disappointed. Electronic material has the potential to open
>
> doors, but seems like over half the time, the door is closed.
> At all schools, no electronic books are accessible.
> Nova uses adobe digital editions for most ebooks, and those are not
> accessible.
>
> For databases, as I've complained in the past, its been my experience that
> many databases are not fully accessible.
> Ebsco databases  are very problematic.
> I cannot use the boolean operators to change the key word to say "Or" and
> not the default "And".
> Additionally, many pdfs are either images or
> text based but you cannot skim by paragraph with jaws.
>
> Some general databases such as ProQuest and Jstor are accessible.
> But specific subject matter databases are not.
>
> Nova librarians work with me to find articles and we email them to myself.
> They work with any student  when you make an appointment with them. For me,
>
> this has not only combatted the accessibility issues since they can click on
>
> things, but it goes faster because they can skim for relevant information.
> They also have expertise to know which key words to use.
>
> After  getting them in the email, From there, I read them if they are
> accessible. If not, I can either use Openbook or a live reader.
>
> The head of the Nova library is interested in accessibility. She is
> contacting ebsco on my behalf to see  if they can provide any guidance on
> using it with jaws or to get them to make it more accessible.
> Our school has many ebsco databases, so I'm sure I'm not alone in my
> frustrations.
> Specifically, I learned we have 36 ebsco databases at nova.
>
> At Marymount, I tried to use academic search complete, another  ebsco
> databases, and
> had the same issues I have now.
>
> So, in summary, while I've received support from library staff, I feel I can
>
> only do so much at a library alone due to accessibility.
> Whether its encountering an inaccessible ebook, unfriendly database, or
> print text,
> such barriers have kept me from doing research alone. Of course, I've done
> it with a reader and found work arounds when needed. But its no easy
> endeavor.
>
> Ashley
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael D Ausbun via nabs-l
> Sent: Friday, February 06, 2015 6:54 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: [nabs-l] University Libraries
>
> Hello All:
> Out of curiosity, what are your experiences dealing with the University
> Libraries? According to some of our librarians, at the University of Nevada,
>
> Reno, necessary accommodations ought to be made, in order to allow equal
> access to all books contained in the libraries. Thus, they believe they
> ought to be able to scan and process or receive already accessible formats
> of any given book. On the other hand, some librarians suggested that it is
> impossible, because it is a violation of copyright laws (which is
> technically true).
> I am just curious, because in order to complete my thesis research, I need
> access to a book, which is not on Bookshare and I would rather not buy it,
> in the instance that the University already owns it.
> Respectfully,
> Michael Ausbun
>
> Pledge, Kappa Sigma
> Cofounder, University of Nevada, Reno Philosophy Club
> Secretary, Nevada Association of Blind Students
> Member, Honors College of the University of Nevada, Reno
> Member, Speech and Debate at the University of Nevada, Reno
>
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-- 
Kaiti