The Mina Rees Library is committed to making the library accessible to its users. We offer a variety of supports to facilitate physical and digital access to library services, collections, and spaces. Further, we will make every effort to accommodate accessibility requests.

Contact the library if you have any questions or need assistance navigating our space or resources. You may also report any barriers to library accessibility using our Report a Barrier form.

• Elevator: The library has one elevator, which is wheelchair accessible. (If the elevator is out of service and you need to visit the 2nd floor of the library, please exit the library and go to the front desk in the Graduate Center lobby, where a Public Safety officer will escort you to the library’s 2nd floor via the main GC elevators. To return to the 1st floor via the main GC elevators, please call Public Safety at (212) 817-7777. You’re welcome to use the phone at the Reference Desk — just dial 7777 from that phone.)
   
• Quiet Spaces: The library as a whole is relatively quiet, and two areas in particular are designated as quiet zones: the Dissertation Reading Room on the 1st floor and the northeast corner (i.e., along 35th Street, closer to Madison Ave.) of the 2nd floor. The library also offers free earplugs (each pair individually wrapped), available in wire bins at the Circulation Desk and Reference Desk.
   
• Service Animals: Consistent with CUNY policy, trained service animals are always welcome in the library.

The library is continually evaluating and improving the accessibility of the library website, research guides, and other library-created web content.

• Item Retrieval: If for any reason you are unable to access an item on a shelf in the library, please go to the circulation desk or reference desk to request assistance. We would be happy to pull the item for you.
   
• Electronic Resources: The library offers many electronic resources (e.g., databases, journals, and e-books) that are developed by, and accessed via, third-party vendors. We expect library vendors to adhere to best practices in web accessibility, and many are actively working to improve their compliance with current web accessibility standards and guidelines, but we are aware that not all e-resources are fully compliant. If you need assistance using any of our e-resources, please contact the library.
   
• Interlibrary Loan / Scan & Deliver:
  • Any member of the GC community may request scans of print materials held by the GC library. Request a single article from a journal issue or up to one chapter of a book via your interlibrary loan account. (After logging in, use New Requests > Article or Book Chapter forms, as appropriate.) The scan will be delivered electronically within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).
  • Our Interlibrary Loan Office also collaborates with Student Disability Services to meet accessibility needs. If you require accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at disabilityservices@gc.cuny.edu or (212) 817-7400. They provide services to meet your needs, including obtaining library materials in the appropriate format and platform.

The library has two computers with specialized assistive software, including JAWS, ZoomText, and Kurzweil 1000/3000. Both computers are on the library’s 2nd floor: one in the southwestern section (i.e., near the intersection of Fifth Ave. and 34th St.), and one in the southeastern section (i.e., along 34th Street, closer to Madison Ave.). Please ask a reference librarian to direct you to them.

There is also an assistive technology room on the 1st floor of the library, accessible by students who have been granted a room key by Student Disability Services.

For more information about assistive technologies available at the Graduate Center, contact Student Disability Services at disabilityservices@gc.cuny.edu or (212) 817-7400.

• Students: For more information about services available to students with disabilities or to request accommodations, contact Student Disability Services at disabilityservices@gc.cuny.edu or (212) 817-7400.
   
• Faculty and Staff: Accommodations for current GC employees are handled by the Office of Human Resources. For more information, consult HR’s Reasonable Accommodations page or contact hr@gc.cuny.edu.