This website gives details of the many assistive resources and services available to anyone wanting to use the Chemistry Library. It is designed to help you get started and consider any adjustments you may need. If there are any others you feel we could provide please contact us.
This is a new website and a work in progress - your feedback is important.
The following topics are covered (accessible via the links in the left-hand menu bar):
- Library space and how to access it: A helpful guide to our library space and what to expect. It includes key accessibility features.
- Library orientation: Where to find library induction information.
- IT support: IT facilities available in the library and links to other sources of assistive technology support.
- Help with printed items (books and journals): Borrowing and returning books, extended loans, book fetching and book/journal scanning services.
- Help with electronic resources (ebooks, ejournals, databases): Useful links to help you access these.
- Non-Medical Helpers: How we can help your Non-Medical Helper support you.
- Library anxiety is a thing: What it is and how to beat it.
Other university and library services that are available to help you
Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC)
The university's Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre can help with support, advice and resources. By registering with the ADRC you can get access to disability support and resources available throughout the university; you may also be entitled to a Non-Medical Helper [internal link].
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre has introduced a 2022 virtual transition event to welcome students and introduce the different services on offer at the university.
Cambridge Libraries
The Libraries Accessibility Service has created an accessibility & disability LibGuide. This pulls together information about accessibility services (including accessible readings, catalogues and reading lists, eresource platforms, assistive technology) and signposts sources of help.
The Engineering Library nearby on Trumpington Street has accessible (lone and group) study spaces for use by any member of the university.
The University Library on West Road has bookable assistive technology rooms and software/equipment. The UL also has an Accessibility and disabled library users website which provides information on accessible services available there.
Wellbeing
The Department has a mental health website on the intranet, as part of the WellChem initiative.
The Chemistry Library has a Wellbeing Area for everyone at the department to use. There are jigsaw puzzles, adult colouring books, pens and pencils, even origami materials and lego. It also includes the library Wellbeing Book Collection: books can be borrowed by all members of the department, or read in the library. Books purchased so far cover mental health, wellbeing and resilience for students, but we want to expand the size of the collection and the topics covered so it has something for everyone. We intend to create an online reading list for this collection that will be kept up to date, which could include direct links to ebooks.
The University Library's Accessibility Services team has begun to bring some wellbeing titles together in a Wellbeing ebooks collection reading list. Click on the blue 'View online' link to view an ebook; you will be taken to iDiscover where you should click on the green 'Online access' link to view the book (Raven login may be required). They are happy to receive new title or new topic suggestions from members of the Department. Please email ebooks@lib.cam.ac.uk to make a recommendation.
Remember that the university has a Student Support website (as part of the Reach Out campaign) which has been developed to signpost students to a range of services available to those with mental health issues following a review of these services.
The Betty & Gordon Moore Library has a User Support Collection, a specially curated set of books covers areas including academic writing, time management, dealing with stress, getting the best out of supervisions and much more. The collection is housed in a discreet area of the ground floor at the Moore Library and items can be borrowed using their self-service machine. They have also created an online reading list for it.
Note on Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
The Department's Committee for the Library and Scholarly Communication has completed an audit of EDI related activities and resources at the Chemistry Library and Cambridge University Libraries. It aims to identify gaps in our EDI provision and measures that can be taken to fill these gaps. It will be published soon and will be a living document; your input will be a vital part of helping us achieve better EDI for all of our library users.
The ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication
Part 6 of the ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication includes the open access ACS Inclusivity Style Guide section which has been developed 'to help people communicate in ways that recognize and respect diversity in all its forms'. Accessibility is one of the topics covered, along with Age, Disabilities, Disorders, & Other Health Conditions, Gender & Sexuality, Race, Ethnicity, & Nationality, Diversity & Inclusion in Images, Accessibility, Socioeconomic Status, Forms. Please visit this ebooks@cambridge blog post for further information on the Guide.