Accessibility Services

Request Materials via Eli Express
HathiTrust Access for Yale Users with Print Disabilities
Library Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
Physical Accessibility Information
Other Resources Available on Campus
Contact the Library


Library Assistance for Persons with Disabilities

The Yale University Library serves as an important research and educational resource for the students, faculty, and staff of the Yale community. In order to ensure all users equitable access to the library's collections, public services, and web resources, the library has developed a program of services that enable users with disabilities to take full advantage of its offerings.

The following services will be available to persons with disabilities upon request:

Finding and Using Library Materials

  • Assistance to facilitate the use of finding aids (online and physical)
  • Paging of books from stacks and shelf areas (may be on a delayed basis)
  • Assistance in ascertaining the availability of books and periodicals housed in Yale libraries
  • Extension of reserves or loan periods or modification of other lending rules on an individual basis when possible
  • Telephone assistance with finding out the status of an item on Orbis, the online catalog. On an individual basis, library staff will check to see if an item is on the shelf (may be on a delayed basis)
  • Ensuring of access to microform readers, computers, and other pieces of information technology
  • Assistance with photocopying of a limited number of pages from books and journals (may be on a delayed basis)

Reference Assistance​

  • Advice about access to specialized online information sources
  • Explanations and descriptions of sources of specialized information
  • Help with numerous bibliographic citations
  • Instruction on how to use available library technologies located at adaptive workstations

Proxy Cards​​

Users with disabilities are eligible to obtain a proxy borrower's card from the Sterling Memorial Library Service Desk for a specified friend or attendant to borrow library materials on their behalf. Proxy cards for non-students/staff will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on an applicant's particular circumstances.

For more information on university-level assistance for Yale students and staff with disabilities, contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Access

Physical Accessibilit​y Information

Service animals are allowed in all libraries; this includes dogs and miniature horses only. Support animals such as birds and pigs are not allowed in libraries.

Haas Family Arts Library
The Haas Arts Library, including study rooms and classrooms, is wheelchair accessible.

Bass Library
The building is wheelchair-accessible. An outside elevator (located in the pavilion entrance to the Thain Family Cafe and the Bass Library) will take the reader directly to the Bass Library.

To get to the Sterling Memorial Library from the Bass Library, readers with wheelchairs should take the elevator one level up to the tunnel connecting Bass Library and Sterling Memorial Library. Once through the tunnel, in the Wright Reading Room, turn left to the elevator and proceed up to the main level and the Sterling Memorial Library nave.

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
The building is wheelchair-accessible via the doorway on its south side. The guards, who are on duty during library hours at the desk on the street-floor level, will assist anyone needing to use the elevator to reach the exhibition floor or readers' services on the court level. The restrooms, on the court level, are wheelchair-accessible according to current codes.

Marx Science and Social Science Library
Wheelchair access via the southeast entrance of Yale Science Building (YSB) located across from the Kline Geology Laboratory (KGL). Once inside YSB, take the elevator up to the concourse level. Pass the OC Marsh Lecture Hall and continue through the concourse until YSB connects to Kline Tower. The Marx Library entrance will be located on the right-hand side

Wheelchair access is to the concourse level of Marx Library only; no elevator to lower level.  Staff are available to page materials from book stacks on lower level; please request paging at the Information Desk or request through the online catalog.  Study rooms, classroom, Mac and PC workstations, restrooms are accessible on the concourse level.

Classics Library
Persons with wheelchairs must call the desk (432-8054); the elevator goes to the fifth floor only with a key.

Divinity Library
The library is wheelchair-accessible via the main entrance of the Yale Divinity School. Inside the library, an elevator gives access to the second and ground floors.

Medical Library
The library is wheelchair-accessible via the entrance on 333 Cedar Street. Elevator access to the basement collections is available.

Sterling Memorial Library
The building is wheelchair-accessible via the High Street entrance. Readers who require assistance to get into the Sterling Memorial Library should press the blue door operator button located to the right of the entrance door.  When exiting the blue door operator button is located on the stanchion on the right just past the High Street security post.

Contact the Library

For assistance with library services, please contact:

Katy Webb
Director of Yale Library Access Services and Bass Library
kathryn.webb@yale.edu

Yale University Resources

Office of Institutional Equity and Access
Student Accessibility Services

Last modified: 
Wednesday, September 6, 2023 - 4:42pm