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.

Office of the Dean of the Library

(617) 373-5001

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 contact:

Accessibility & Online Learning Librarian

Anaya Jones

(617) 373-5804

[email protected]

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 current entrance to Snell library is two sets of double doors at the top of concrete stairs and a wheelchair accessible ramp. The outside set of doors have door opening buttons. Of the interior doors, the inward traffic doors remain open. We invite any community members who would utilize a door opening button to exit through these doors as well.

The help and Information desk is located on the first floor of the library, directly inside the temporary entrance. Staff are happy to direct you.

Other features include:

Lactation room on the fourth floor.
All-gender restrooms are available on the fourth floor.
Two all-gender bathrooms can be found near the service elevator.
One all-gender bathroom can be found near the gendered bathrooms by the main staircase and elevators.
All floors have wheelchair accessible bathrooms/bathroom stalls.

Snell Library is currently undergoing renovations. During this process, available facilities and amenities change frequently. If you would like to plan a visit to Snell library during this time, please contact us to discuss how the library can support you:

Associate Dean of Research and Learning Services

Evan Simpson

(617) 373-4920

[email protected]

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.