Hesburgh Libraries

The Hesburgh Libraries are committed to providing accommodations for patrons with permanent or temporary disabilities. We work in conjunction with the University Office of Disability Services. Patrons seeking assistance are encouraged to email hl-accessibility-list@nd.edu to request assistance or share their concern. We will arrange for accommodations at any of the Hesburgh Libraries locations to enable you to make the most efficient use of the resources, spaces, and services.

What to Expect

Library staff are committed to making your visit successful. You may need to provide advance notice of your library visit to ensure staff availability.

Please be sure to let library staff know about your needs via email or at the time you ask staff for assistance.

Document Delivery Services

With document delivery services, you can request that materials be found and held at the library location of your choice. Depending on an individual's needs, we may be able to arrange for dorm delivery. Learn more about document delivery.

Library staff can also scan a book chapter or journal article and send it to you electronically as a PDF to view on your own computer.

Interlibrary Loan

Material that Hesburgh Libraries does not own may be requested through Interlibrary Loan. Learn more about Interlibrary Loan.

Assistive Technology

There are workstations in Hesburgh Library with the following software:

1. Adobe Acrobat
2. Magnifier
3. Voice Over
4. Narrator
5. ABBY Fine Reader
6. Dragon Naturally Speaking
7. Apple speech to text
8. Windows speech recognition

BookEye Scanners with OCR software and height-adjustable/accessible workstations are available.

Additionally, a Topaz Video Magnifier machine for magnifying texts and documents is available on the Lower Level.

Private Study or Work Spaces

In some of the libraries, a privately assigned study space can be arranged. Please check with your preferred library for more information.

HathiTrust Enhanced Access

In participation with HathiTrust, Hesburgh Libraries can provide access for eligible patrons with print disabilities to those items within HathiTrust that Hesburgh Libraries also hold in print. Access is through a proxy. Eligible patrons wishing to use this service of enhanced access may contact Scott Howland, coordinator of disability services, Sara Bea Disability Services.

1. Eligible patron: an affiliated user at a supporting institution who has a print disability for which access to digital copies of library books is a reasonable and appropriate accommodation
2. Print disability: a disability, such as visual impairment, learning disability, physical disability, or other disability that impedes access to printed content in the standard way.
3. Proxy: a representative designated by a HathiTrust supporting institution who accesses in-copyright content on behalf of an eligible patron.