Details about our spaces
We know that our study and learning spaces are important to students. We want our spaces to be welcoming and accessible to everyone. This includes people with a range of sensory and mobility needs.
Here, we have gathered detailed information about our spaces. We hope this will help you plan your visit.
Respite rooms
Use our respite rooms if you need a private space to rest or lie down. We have respite rooms in both library buildings.
Please leave the rooms clean and tidy. We have provided cleaning supplies.
Mearns - McPherson Library
- Location: main floor, room 132
- Includes:
- a bed with a lift
- an easy chair
- adjustable lighting
- How to access: visit the Ask Us Desk for a key
Priestly Library
- Location: second floor, room A259
- Includes:
- a bed
- an easy chair with a foot stool
- adjustable lighting
- How to access: visit the Priestly front desk for a key
Assistive tech rooms
These rooms include multiple workstations equipped with assistive software and hardware. There are rooms in both library buildings.
Want to learn more about our hardware or software? You can book an appointment for an assistive tech room tutorial.
Mearns - McPherson Library
- Location: main floor, rooms 113e and 113f
- How to access: first-come, first-served
Getting here
Rooms 113e and 113f are near the main entrance to the building. You will go down a corridor to the left as you enter through the foyer.
The journey into the assistive technology rooms has both laminate and carpeted flooring. There are several sets of half-dome shaped transitions.
The doorway into the assistive technology rooms is approximately 86 cm (34 in.) wide.
Furniture
Each room has at least 1 adjustable height table, as well as fixed tables. There are rolling adjustable office chairs, with and without armrests.
Lighting
Each room has 4 overhead fluorescent lights. There are no windows to the outside, but there are windows to the corridor. There are no blinds.
Ventilation
There are no windows to the outside. There are intake and outtake vents on the ceiling.
Noise
The sounds of people talking and moving around are moderate to high with the door open. Noises are soft to moderate with the door closed.
Priestly Library
- Location: main floor, room A147
- How to access: first-come, first-served
We will add more details about the Priestly Library assistive tech room as soon as we can. Please contact us if you have any questions in the meantime.
Hardware
Available external hardware devices include:
- desktop microphone
- keyboard, fully split
- keyboard, partially split
- screen glare filter
- tablet for writing/drawing
- trackball mouse
- vertical mouse, left-handed
- vertical mouse, right-handed
- webcam
Software
Available software includes:
- ABBYY Fine Reader
- Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional
- Equatio
- JAWS
- Kurzweil 1000
- Kurzweil 3000
- Kurzweil 3000 Read The Web extension for Google Chrome
- MS Office productivity software
- NVDA
- PaperCut
- Read&Write extension for Google Chrome
- Respondus LockDown Browser
Computer workstations
Visit the following pages to learn more about the computer workstations in our library buildings. These pages include details about our computer spaces. They also provide information about the software that's available to use.
Mearns - McPherson computers
Priestly computers
Navigating library buildings
Below, you can find some general information that applies to the buildings as a whole.
This section is still a work in progress. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Mearns - McPherson Library
Getting here
The nearest accessible parking spots are in parking lots B and C. See the accessibility parking map for more information.
There are 2 sets of doors at the building entrance. Each set of doors has a push-button door opener. The narrowest point is the people-counting gates after the second set of doors. The distance between them is approximately 96 cm (38 in.).
All floors are accessible by elevator.
Temperature
Temperature within the Mearns - McPherson Library is variable. We recommend being prepared for temperature fluctuations.
Noise
The ground floor of the library is often busy. The sounds of people talking and moving around are moderate to high in open spaces.
Accessibility features
Refer to the Mearns - McPherson floor maps for more detail about accessibility features.
Priestly Library
Getting here
The closest accessible parking is in parking lots 4 and 8. See the accessibility parking map for more information.
All floors are accessible by elevator.
Accessibility features
Refer to the Priestly floor maps for more detail about accessibility features.
Other study spaces
We are developing detailed descriptions of our study spaces. Please contact us if you have any questions in the meantime.
Washrooms
BiblioCafé
The BiblioCafé contains accessible, all-gender toilets. The entrance to the BiblioCafé is off the main foyer, and has an automatic push-button door opener. There is a wide, clear path to the 2 single-stall washrooms.
There are 2 individual stalls. The stall on the left is equipped with a lift. You may request the harness for that lift at the Ask Us Desk.
Other washrooms
Mearns - McPherson Library:- washrooms in the lower level and on the third floor are wheelchair accessible
Priestly Library:
- washrooms on the first floor are wheelchair accessible
- the second floor has an accessible universal washroom
We will continue to add details about washroom accessibility as soon as we can. Please contact us if you have any questions in the meantime.