Library disability and dyslexia service
The Library offers a wide range of services and assistive technology for students with disabilities, dyslexia and mental health conditions.
Before you can use our services, you must complete your Study Support Plan.
Accessible study spaces
- In addition to our accessible study areas (Accessibility Centre and the Study Support room), you can also use the Assistive Technology Booth (G17), which is on the ground floor of the main building on Malet Street, next to the Disability Office. You can book the Study Support room or Assistive Technology Booth for two hours per day.
Assistive software
- The following software is available on all computers at Birkbeck:
- ClaroRead reads text aloud from the screen and can scan and convert PDFs to Microsoft Word documents. Watch the ClaroRead tutorial on YouTube.
- ClaroCapture can help you organise and edit your reading material. Watch the ClaroCapture tutorial on YouTube.
- Jaws is a screen reader that helps users with vision difficulties navigate without a mouse.
- MindView offers mind mapping to help organise your thoughts and manage your time. Watch the Mindview tutorial on YouTube.
- ZoomText magnifies your screen.
- The following software is available in the Student Support Room (Library level one) and in the Assistive Technology Booth (G17, outside of the Library) (book the Study Support Room or the Assistive Technology Booth):
- Dragon allows you to dictate, rather than type.
Dyslexia Screening Test (LADS)
- The Dyslexia Screening Test (LADS) is available on all computers in the Library and in IT workstation rooms. Follow these steps to take the test:
- log in to a computer with your ITS username and password
- put on headphones
- click on the Windows Start Menu
- type LADS into the search box
- click on LADS Test Module and follow the instructions
- For further help, read our full LADS instructions.
- The test lasts about 30 minutes and your results, which are sent automatically to the Disability and Dyslexia Service, will indicate the probability of dyslexia. They will email you to let you know your results and what to do next.
Equipment you can borrow
- Go to the Library issue desk on the ground floor to borrow the following for use in the Library:
- bookstands
- dyslexia rulers
- ear defenders
- MacBook Pro
- noise-cancelling headphones
- Windows laptop.
- In the Accessibility Centre, the Study Support Room and the Assistive Technology Booth (G17), you can find:
- CCTV magnifier (Accessibility Centre only)
- coloured paper
- height-adjustable tables
- orthopaedic chairs
- printers
- scanners
- task lights.
Face-to-face support
- For face-to-face support you can:
- speak to us at the Accessibility Centre during term-time, Monday to Friday, 4pm and 6pm
- book a one-to-one session for support in using the Library.
Help Accessing library materials
- Once you have completed your Study Support Plan, we can support you in the following ways:
- you will get an extra week for your book loans (but not for renewals or one-day loans).
- use the 'Request Reading Materials' link in the 'Student Library Services' section of your My Birkbeck profile if you would like us to:
- fetch items from the shelves for you (you can collect them from the issue desk on the ground floor)
- post books to you (you'll need to return them to the Library yourself)
- request books in an electronic format that you can read with text-to-speech software
- photocopy items
- scan chapters of books and convert them into a format you can read with text-to-speech software.
- You can also nominate a proxy borrower to borrow and return books for you.
Sensus Access: make documents accessible
Contact us
- You can contact Melissa Steiner and Micheal Wheare if you have any Library disability and dyslexia service queries.
- email us
- call +44 (0)20 7631 6491