Accessibility Overview

Services for People with Disabilities

University of Mississippi Libraries are committed to providing access to library collections and services in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Our policy is to provide, whenever possible, arrangements that enable library users with disabilities to have access to library materials.

Physical Facilities

The University of Mississippi Libraries are committed to making its facilities physically accessible in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Libraries are currently equipped with ramps, electronic doors, and elevators. More in-depth information on physical accessibility is available for both the J.D. Williams Library and the Science Library.

Questions or Concerns: Contact Office of Student Disability Services or Stan Whitehorn.

Services for Accessing Electronic Information

Library Web Site

University of Mississippi Libraries are committed to making their Web site accessible to all users.

Questions or Concerns: Clemon Beamon, Web & Media Designer.

Databases, electronic journals, electronic books and other electronic resources

The University of Mississippi Libraries provide access to many databases, electronic journals, electronic books, and other electronic resources created by outside vendors.

Questions or Concerns:

JD Williams Library – Contact Kristen Rogers, Electronic Resources Librarian
Science Library – Contact Harley Rogers, Science Librarian and Assistant Professor

Assistive technology equipment

Assistive technology equipment is available the JD Williams Library and the Science Library. More in-depth information on assistive technology in the libraries is available on our assistive technology page.

Services for Accessing Print Materials

Retrieving library materials

Library staff at the West Circulation desk of JD Williams Library and the Circulation Desk of the Science Library will retrieve library materials for users who need assistance. Library staff will make every effort to retrieve the needed material in a timely manner. However, if there are a great number of items to be retrieved, advance notice will be required. In addition, if the library is busy and/or there is only one staff member available at the circulation desk, library staff may ask the user to come back later to pick up the material.

Questions or Concerns:

JD Williams Library – Contact Judy Greenwood, Head of Access Services
Science Library – Contact Harley Rogers, Science Librarian and Assistant Professor

Department of Archives & Special Collections

Located on the third floor of the JD Williams Library, The Department of Archives & Special Collections contains items relating to Mississippi and the American South. Many of these items are rare and fragile and may not withstand use on specialized equipment. Items in the Department of Archives & Special Collections do not circulate. The staff will make every effort to help those needing specialized assistance. For information or assistance please contact Jennifer Ford, Head of The Department of Archives & Special Collections.

Audio Visual Materials

It is the responsibility of faculty to make course-related audio-visual materials accessible to students with disabilities by arranging for decoding or interpretive services. The University of Mississippi Libraries do not normally collect closed-captioned audio-visual materials. For information or assistance, contact Judy Greenwood , Head of Access Services. If further assistance is needed, contact the Office of Student Disability Services.

Reference Services

General reference assistance

Reference services are available in person and on the telephone, e-mail and live chat through our Ask-a-Librarian service.

Specialized Reference assistance

The University of Mississippi Libraries are committed to providing assistive reference service. For specialized assistance at JD Williams Library, ask at the reference desk located in the Information Commons.

Please contact Melissa Dennis, Head of Research & Instruction, for more assistance and for off-campus/distance students needing assistance. To setup an appointment at the science library, contact Harley Rogers, Science Librarian and Assistant Professor.

Questions or Concerns

To set up an appointment at the Science Library, contact Harley Rogers, Science Librarian and Assistant Professor.
For Off-Campus/Distance students, contact Kristin Rogers, Electronic Resources and Discovery Librarian & Assistant Professor.

Library Instruction

Advance notice will be needed for users with disabilities who need accommodations during library instruction sessions. Arrangements may include, but are not limited to, sign language interpreters and ensuring our electronic classroom is accessible to someone with special needs. Instructors or students may request special accomodations by contacting Melissa Dennis, Head of Research & Instruction.

Borrowing Material From the Libraries

Proxy Borrower cards

Proxy Borrower Cards are available to users with disabilities. They allow someone else to check out items for a user. The user, not the proxy, remains responsible for all items checked out on the card.

Questions or Concerns: Contact Judy Greenwood , Head of Access Services.

Exceptions to Circulation Policies

In certain cases, exceptions will be made to general circulation policies in order to accommodate the access needs of users with disabilities. Users with disabilities should request these exceptions at the circulation desk of the library housing the needed material. Examples of accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

allowing users to check out non-circulating or “library use only” material in cases where users require assistive technology to use the material and the technology is not available in that library
allowing extended loan periods to users who need additional time with material in order to have it translated into an accessible format.

Fines, fees and replacement costs

All users are responsible for fines, fees and replacement costs for overdue, lost, or damaged materials.

Interlibrary Loan

Current University of Mississippi students, faculty, and staff are eligible to borrow items from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Users with special needs can request items currently held in the Library in a different format, such as Braille or large print. Users should be aware that not all items are available in an alternate format.

Questions or Concerns: Contact Judy Greenwood, Head of Interlibrary Loan Librarian.

Copying Services

The University of Mississippi Libraries provides photocopiers for public use in each library. Users who require assistance with photocopiers should request it from the staff at the circulation desk. At JD Williams Library assistance can be found at the West Circulation Desk. At the Science Library assistance can be found at the Circulation Desk.