Atlantic Centre of Research, Access and Support for Students with Disabilities

Alternative Format Textbooks & Ferguson Library

Ferguson Library

The Ferguson Library for Print-handicapped Students, located on the main floor of the Patrick Power Library at SMU, currently has a collection of approximately 900 books on tape, and 300 e-text titles, most of which are listed on the Novanet online library catalogue.

Any student who is print-handicapped as a result of a visual impairment, a learning disability, or a physical disability that prohibits easy access to the printed page is eligible to request materials from the Ferguson Library. Students may be asked to provide medical documentation for their disability or they may be referred by the Atlantic Centre of Support for Students With Disabilities.

Students who are print disabled can request required textbooks, readings and research materials in an e-text or audio book format.

1. Students are required to meet with their professors to determine textbooks and other reading materials needed for all courses in which they are registered. The Bookstore also maintains a complete list of required reading materials for each of the courses. When requesting information about course materials from the Bookstore it is important to provide the name of the professor as well as the course number and section. E.g. ENGL 1205.1D.
   
   
2. Students are responsible for providing a copy of the books and other materials to be converted to e-text or audio prior to the commencement of classes. The library will assist where it can in locating additional copies of materials to be converted.
   
   
3. To allow for timely production, students should bring in their reading requests at least three weeks before the beginning of their courses. Requests during term will be processed as quickly as possible on a first come first served basis.
   
   
4. Audio tapes, and all borrowed items, must be returned after completion of courses at the end of each academic year.
   
   
5. The library can often obtain taped or digital audio books, Braille and other materials on an inter-library loan basis for students. This is free of charge wherever possible, but if there is a charge, it is the student's responsibility to pay the required fees.

1. The Ferguson Library will find, screen, and assign volunteer readers to record books at the request of a student.
   
   
2. The library will accept requests to tape, or produce E-text material which is likely to be needed at a future time.
   
   
3. The Ferguson Library will assist print-handicapped students acquire taped or e-text material from other institutions and libraries where institutional library loans are possible.
   
   
4. The Ferguson Library will convert books and articles to e-text as requested. E-text can be provided in ASCII, MP3 Text to audio, Kurzweil 3000, and other digital formats where possible. E-text is produced and edited to the student's needs in as rapid a manner as possible, working on a first come first served basis.
   
   
5. Tapes, disks and other materials produced by the Ferguson Library will be labelled in large print or Braille at the request of the student.
   If assistance with reference materials is required, appointments can be made with the Coordinator of the Ferguson Library.
   
   Walt Tanner  Tel: 902.420.5553  E-mail: walt.tanner@smu.ca