All students, faculty, and staff are eligible for these services.

Visitors who are not students, faculty or staff at the University at Albany, but who request library services, will receive, if possible, the same services as University affiliates. Our goal is to facilitate access for all users, regardless of affiliation. However, limits in staff availability may prevent us from offering “while you wait” service. Visitors are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Coordinator to discuss service needs ahead of your visit.

A Disability Service Coordinator is available at the uptown and downtown campus for each of the three libraries. The coordinator’s role is to:

• Respond to all inquiries regarding services to persons with disabilities.
• Register users for services and verify eligibility.
• Serve as a liaison to the Disability Resource Center.
• Arrange for training in the use of assistive equipment & software in the Libraries.
• Arrange or provide orientations.
• Coordinate requests for services with individual library departments.
• Advocate for users in overcoming barriers encountered in the Libraries.
• Recommend facilities and services to meet the needs of users with disabilities.

Individual and small-group orientations are available upon request. Orientations include guided tours of library facilities and reviews of services offered. 

The Libraries offer many instruction programs and courses. If you wish to attend and have special needs of which the instructor should be aware, your needs will be accommodated if advance notice is provided.

The University Library and its entrance doors, rest rooms, and other public spaces have been modified to improve accessibility. There is elevator access to all public areas. The entrance is on the podium level. Access to the academic podium is from Washington Ave. entrance to the University.

The Science Library, constructed after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, is our most accessible library. The entrance is on the podium level, east side of the Library.

The Dewey Library, constructed in the early 1900s, has modified its entrances to facilitate access. The entrance is from the first floor of adjacent Draper Hall. Automatic doors and a wheelchair elevator increase accessibility. All services are available on the first floor of the Dewey Library; retrieval services are available to provide access to collections stored on the lower level. Dewey’s electronic classroom is accessible through the lower level of adjacent Draper Hall.

The Libraries offer a variety of services to assist you in the successful completion of your research and coursework. Online tutorials are available.

Online reference chat services and databases are available 24/7 and print reference materials are available in all three libraries. Once you’ve begun your research, if you are having trouble finding resources on your topic, you can ask at the Reference Desk or make an appointment with a librarian for in-depth assistance.

Through PAWS (Personalized Assistance With Searching), librarians will also help you develop a search strategy or provide individualized instruction, depending on your needs. To make an appointment for PAWS assistance use our online form or contact the University Library Reference Desk at 518-442-3558.

Access to many library services and information resources are available through our website.

You can access electronic journals, full-text databases and a vast array of other resources selected by library staff for the University community.

Through the web site you can:

• Access the University Libraries’ online search tool.
• Search our collections.
• Request books, media, book chapters, and journal articles: library staff will page physical books and media for pickup at your preferred library, office delivery is available for faculty and staff, home delivery is available for distance learners; book chapters and journal articles are scanned and delivered electronically as accessible OCR-enabled PDFs.
• Check due dates for items you have checked-out and renew eligible items.
• Search the catalogs of other libraries in the area or around the world.

If you cannot retrieve books or other materials from library stacks, we can assist you with our paging service. You can submit paging request for items in our collection through our Interlibrary Loan request page.

You may designate another person such as an aide, family member or friend to conduct library business on your behalf. This is called a “Proxy Borrower”.  Your proxy borrower may then complete forms, pick-up and return materials and conduct other business without you being present. You may designate more than one person as a proxy borrower. Note: You are responsible for any fines and lost book bills incurred by your proxy(s). Proxy authorization forms are available at the Service Desk.

In the University Libraries a number of library study carrels and computer tables are designed for wheelchair accessibility. Look for the universal access symbol or ask for assistance at library service desks.

Group study rooms are available to users with disabilities. Learn more about Group Study Rooms:

A number of titles are available in large print. 

Many catalogs of Braille books, digital formats & sound recordings, especially those published by the Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped are located in the ULIB GovDoc J 85 LC 19 call number range.