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Accessibility at Musselman Library

Detailed information about access to collections, research services, and physical spaces in Musselman Library

Introduction

Accessible course design starts with identifying accessible course materials. Although materials can be remediated, it is always preferable to choose course materials that begin as accessibly as possible.

What Materials Are Accessible?

Accessibility needs vary depending on the student and learning experience desired. However, choosing materials that

  • can be downloaded in full,
  • are available as EPUB or HTML documents,
  • and include alternative text for images and captions for audio

is a good start! Contact your liaison librarian for help identifying options.

What Isn't Accessible?

Any item that must be used in one particular way is likely to have accessibility problems. For example, audio-only podcasts, or image-only text documents, would likely need remediation.

Alternative Formats for Print Textbooks

If a student has a disability that makes it difficult for them to read print textbooks (which could be a physical, visual, or learning disability), Gettysburg College can provide alternative format textbooks through Bookshare. This is a multi-step process that requires cooperation between professors, students, and the Assistant Dean for Student Accessibility.

  1. First, the professor assigns books through the college bookstore. Because the process of getting textbooks through Bookshare takes time, it is crucial to meet bookstore deadlines.
  2. The student must purchase or rent a copy of the book. This can be from any retailer.
  3. The Assistant Dean for Student Accessibility will work with Bookshare to provide the book digitally in an accessible format. This could include an audio book; adjusting the font, color, and background of text; and Braille Ready Format for Braille displays and embossers.

Where does the library fit into this? Sometimes, Bookshare is not a feasible option. This might happen when Bookshare does not have a book, when the Bookshare process is taking too long, or when a student does not have documentation on file with the Center for Student Success. In this case, the first two steps are the same. Once the student has a print copy, they can bring it to the library and use the library scanner to create a PDF that has Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Then, they can read it using any assistive technology that reads PDFs.

Additional Resources for Textbooks

Accessibility for Other Materials