Accessibility

Northeastern University Library is committed to providing equal access and services to the Northeastern community, including our students, faculty, staff and researchers with disabilities.

Library staff are continuously working to improve accessibility across our websites, resources, services, and buildings. We rely on current accessibility standards and Northeastern University’s Policy on Digital Accessibility to guide our efforts. The library’s accessibility committee identifies areas for improvement and facilitates collaboration across library departments to ensure accessibility is approached holistically.

We welcome your requests, questions, and feedback. Below you’ll find information specific to library locations or services.

Submit Feedback & Report Barriers

Office of the Dean of the Library

(617) 373-5001

[email protected]

Website

We designed the Northeastern University Library Website for our users through extensive user testing, and we utilize different services to monitor the overall accessibility and quality of content provided on the website. We are constantly working towards conforming to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA criteria.

Our commitment and work towards access to the website is ongoing. The library’s Web Governance Committee welcomes questions, comments, suggestions, and ideas. [email protected]

Online Research

The library provides access to hundreds of databases through third party vendors to support the research of the university community. We strive to provide accessible platforms and files through our partnerships with our vendors. This includes:

Collaborating with University ITS in the new resource licensing process to review accessibility
Requesting remediated content from vendors as needed
Reviewing third-party roadmaps for new accessibility features and following up on known issues

Please consult with your subject specialist for guidance on which resources to use for your research. To research disability or accessibility, view the library’s research guide on accessibility.

Research Guides & Tutorials

Research guides and tutorials are created following accessibility best practices:

Research guides and interactive tutorials are reviewed for accessibility barriers in a rolling review cycle.
Document tutorials are made available as tagged PDFs and Word or PowerPoint documents that are checked for accessibility barriers before publication and in a rolling review cycle.
Video tutorials include closed captions and transcripts and are scripted to describe visual elements. Video tutorials are checked for accessibility during the creation process, again before publication, and in a rolling review cycle.

Video and document tutorials created before 2022 are being reviewed and updated for accessibility, but this process is ongoing. If you encounter a barrier we missed, or would like to use an older tutorial, please let us know.

Digital Repository System

The materials in the Digital Repository System come from a variety of sources and accessibility varies. If you need captions for video or a PDF remediated to work with a screen reader, please email the DRS at [email protected].

Library Buildings

Boston

The main entrance to Snell library includes two sets of double doors (36 inches wide) at the top of concrete stairs and a wheelchair accessible ramp. Door activation buttons can be found to either side of the entrance for the closest set of doors.

The four-story building with a basement has three elevators with braille labels. Two elevators are located near the main stairwell. The service elevator is located on the east side of the building near another stairwell (4). The Help and Information desk is located on the first floor of the library, directly inside the North entrance to the left. Staff are happy to direct you.

Other features include:

Lactation room across from the Silent Study room on the fourth floor. Contact facilities to enable permissions to reserve this room
All-gender restrooms are available on the third (near service elevator) and fourth floors (near main and service elevators).
All floors have wheelchair accessible bathrooms/bathroom stalls. On the basement, second, third, and fourth floors restrooms can be found near the main stairs / elevator. On the first, second, third and fourth floors restrooms can be found near the service elevator.
Study spaces include lower tables or desks that can accommodate a wheelchair and high-top seating throughout the library. Study rooms have a sliding door and a flat threshold.
Sound-proof pods are available on the second, third and fourth floors. Each floor includes one wheelchair accessible sound-proof pod.

Snell Library is newly renovated. Renovation crews are finishing final detail work. Please let us know if you encounter any issues or barriers. If you have any questions about planning a visit to Snell library , please contact us to discuss how the library can support you:

Oakland

The F. W. Olin Library (Oakland) is wheelchair accessible. The entrance is flat with no stairs and has a door opening button. The service desks (Reference and Circulation Desks) are located on the first floor of the library as you enter the building. Staff at either desk can direct you.

The two-story building has an elevator with braille labels. There are four public restrooms all with accessible stalls: on the 1st floor, there is a woman’s room and a men’s room both with door opening buttons; on the 2nd floor there is an all-gender restroom and a women’s restroom (the 2nd floor restrooms do not have door opening buttons).

Other features include:

Some study tables and carrels are lower to accommodate a wheelchair.
Sit/stand study tables.
One group study room (1st floor: 103), a seminar room (2nd floor: 203), and a student lounge that are wheelchair accessible.
Chairs throughout the building that can accommodate different body sizes and abilities.
A computer station (1st floor near the Reference Desk) that can accommodate a wheelchair, has a low vision keyboard, roller ball mouse, and an OCR enabled flatbed scanner. Anyone with a Northeastern log in can use this computer.

Oakland (F. W. Olin Library):

(510) 430-2196

[email protected]

In-Person Borrowing

The Library’s proxy borrowing service allows you to choose another person (a “proxy”) who can check out materials on your behalf. For this service, please complete the Proxy Borrowing Form.

For more information about Proxy borrowing and easy access to print materials, contact the library.