Library Accessibility Service: Home

Fogler Library's policy is to provide all our users with access to library services and resources. Our staff is committed to removing barriers that prevent access for persons with disabilities.

Building Accessibility Information
Patrons who use a wheelchair or prefer not to use stairs should enter Fogler Library on its east side across from the Memorial Union. Automatic doors in the lobby are switch-activated. All levels of Fogler Library are accessible by elevator. Users requiring special assistance should check with the staff at the Circulation Desk on level 1. A campus accessibility map showing accessible entrances to all buildings is available on the UMaine web site.

Service and Assistance Animals
Questions regarding Assistance Animals?

Locating Resources
Library staff will assist users when their disabilities prevent them from utilizing the library catalog, online databases, and other library resources. Assistance is available inside the library, as well as by phone at 207.581.1681, via e-mail at gregory.t.curtis@maine.edu and online chat.

Retrieving Materials
Users with disabilities may request staff assistance in retrieving materials at any library service desk. For questions or more information, contact the Library Accessibility Service Coordinator. 

Rare materials: Students with print disabilities who need access for educational/research purposes to information in rare materials and/or other materials that may be easily damaged or are otherwise not suitable for scanning, may contact the Library Accessibility Service Coordinator. 

Digital Delivery
Users with print disabilities may request printed materials in electronic format.

• Eligible students, faculty, and staff should contact our Library Accessibility Service Coordinator for specific information regarding digital delivery of materials. Eligibility for students is determined by Disability Support Services; eligibility for faculty and staff is determined by the Office of Equal Opportunity.
•  Eligible University of Maine students, faculty, and staff can receive special, full text access to some Fogler-owned, in-copyright materials in HathiTrust.  HathiTrust is a partnership of academic & research institutions, offering a collection of millions of libraries around the world. In order to take advantage of this service, please contact our Library Accessibility Service Coordinator. 
•  Upon an instructor’s request, the library also provides electronic course reserves to all students through E-Reserves, subject to the limitations of fair use.  Contact Fogler Library Reserve Services by phone at 207.581.1666 or send email to um.library.circ@maine.edu if an item posted to electronic course reserves in E-Reserves is not accessible.
• The process of reformatting materials may take up to ten days, longer if large quantities are requested and during peak times. In general, Fogler Library will scan all printed pages, process any non-graphical text using Adobe Acrobat’s built-in text recognition, and provide the resulting PDF file. Please contact our Library Accessibility Service Coordinator, if you require other arrangements.
• Section 121 of the U.S. Copyright Act governs reproduction of copyrighted works for users with print disabilities.  Further reproduction or distribution in a format other than a specialized format exclusively for use by blind or other persons with disabilities is not permitted under Section 121.

NOTE: Our electronic service interfaces purportedly meet Section 508 standards for web accessibility. However, each of these user interfaces is written on top of a commercial product, and each has its own idiosyncrasies. Users with disabilities who encounter any technical barriers are encouraged to contact our Library Accessibility Service Coordinator during regular business hours. At other times users should contact the Circulation department by phone at 207.581.1666 or send e-mail to um.library.circ@maine.edu.

Assistive Technology Equipment
Fogler Library has a dedicated workstation for use by students and others with visual disabilities. It is located on the first floor of the library, near the reference desk. It has an Internet connection, and Microsoft software. Users may bring their own headphones.

IN PROCESS OF UPDATING August 2021

Additional Information
If you have questions or need more information, contact Greg Curtis, Library Accessibility Service Coordinator, by phone at 207.581.1681 or by email at gregory.t.curtis@maine.edu .

Addtitional Resources

• Student Accessibility Services 
• Equal Opportunity Office
• Information Technologies