Services for Students with Disabilities

The staff of the Shatford Library is committed to making its collections and resources accessible to students, faculty and staff with disabilities. The Library provides a number of services designed to assist special needs, as well as adaptive technologies and special services facilities.

Access TO the Library

The ramp to the Library may present a hardship for some students in manually operated wheelchairs. The Library has made special arrangements with the Media Center to allow access through the northeast elevator. Please ask at the Media Center.

Tours Of the Library

PCC's student population from all diverse backgrounds and abilities can take advantage of the Shatford Library walking tour. Tours are provided in 9 languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish, Japanese, Farsi, and Tagalog. Students are encouraged to listen to these tours on the portable cassette recorders that are available at the Circulation desk. Scripts are also available for deaf and hearing-impaired students. Group tours can be arranged by calling the Library Instruction Coordinator, Dorothy Potter (626) 585-7846.

Individual Help

Librarians provide individual help in developing research strategies for your assignments or information needs. Although we can't provide exhaustive services such as reading the material to you, there is adaptive technology and other resources that can help you in the library. Contact the Disabled Students Program and Services (DSPS) Office (585-7127) for information and tutor recommendations.

It is particularly helpful if you can call and make an appointment with the Reference Librarian. Leslie Tirapelle (585-7839) coordinates services to students with special needs. With advance notice, librarians can prepare special materials to assist you in your research. Since the Reference Desk is extremely busy, the Librarians prefer you make appointments so that they can give more time and attention to your specific needs. If you can't make an appointment ahead of time, come in and ask to speak to a Librarian at the Reference Desk.

Library Resources

The library's web site, http://www.pasadena.edu/library, follows the PCC campus acessibility guidelines. Contact Leslie Tirapelle (626) 585-7839 if yo have questions or suggestions regarding the web site.

The Library houses resources to meet some specific needs of students. The large-type books are scattered throughout the collection but you can locate them by using our Library Catalog and doing a search with the Subject : large type books.

The SS (Special Services) Collection was designed to assist students who have learning disabilities and read at nontraditional college reading levels. Each item provides the calculated reading level, R.L 7.5 refers to 7th grade, 5th month; Interest level is also noted in a similar fashion.

 

Adaptive Technologies and Reading Machines (LL 214)

Resources available in the library:

• Adjustable tables -Two library carrels are adjustable for use by disabled students and two adjustable tables in the library computer lab.

• Three CCTVs/Visualteks (Print Enlargers) - Two with a black and white display (located on the Second floor and on the second floor in LL 214). One Genie Pro with network access and a color display (located on the First Floor).

• Enlarging Photocopiers - Photocopies can be enlarged up to 141% on all Library photocopier machines.

• Kurzweil's Reading Edge (Xerox) - A scanner with voice synthesis that reads text. You can listen on headphones (which you should provide), or record onto a cassette (located on the second floor, Room LL214).

• Magnifiers - Lighted magnifiers and page-sized magnifiers (7" by 10") are available for use in the library (ask at the Circulation Desk).

• Variable Speed 4 Track Cassette Recorders and Players - These recorders (controlled by the listener) can play at variable speeds. This machine has colored buttons and raised letter instructions (ask at the Circulation Desk).

• Adaptive Computers - accessing online information resources are available in the Shatford Library, Second floor Adaptive Equipment Room, LL214. The High Tech Center trains students how to use these resources. In order to use these computers, students must bring their current training authorization certification card and PCC LancerCard to the library Circulation Desk.

Computer Hardware in Room LL214:

• Two computers with network and internet access
• Two flatbed scanners

Software available in Room LL214:

• Pegasus Mail
• Office 2003
• Nero Express 6
• WordSmart
• Plato Pathways
• AT Premiere Suite (includes):
  • E-Text Reader
  • PDF Magic 3.0
  • Talking Calculator
  • Talking Checkbook
  • Talking Dictionary
  • Talking Word Processor
  • Text to Audio
  • Universal Reader
• Jaws 6.0
• Kurzweil 1000 ver. 8
• Kurzweil 3000 ver. 8
• Zoomtext 8.1
• Sorenson IP Relay

* Students pick-up print-outs from the Periodicals Desk (1st Floor) at the price of 10 cents per page. The Circulation Desk staff will help students who require assistance retrieving print-outs.

 

Other Library Services

Self-Help collection books, audiocassettes, and videocassettes that deal with personal skills and support topics are available for checkout. Numerous textbooks are also available for checkout from the Reserve Room at the Circulation Desk.

For more information on services, please feel free to contact the Librarian, Leslie Tirapelle (626) 585-7839.