A visit to our library should be as easy as possible. We therefore strive for optimal accessibility of our buildings and services for everyone, including visitors with a disability. For example, there are wheelchair accessible study spaces and tools for adapted reading.
The library building is divided into two sides: East and West. It consists of three floors: -1 (street level), 0 (sky bridge level) and +1. You will find a floor plan at the bottom of this page.
View the list of facilities in the library building and our other services:
Building
If you have a motor disability or visual impairment, the entrance at the Institutenlaan is the best access to the Library. From here you have direct access to the elevator. You enter at West -1. To get to the information desk and the self-checkout and return machines at West 0, take the elevator to level 0.
Please note: due to the Tinbergen renovation, the entrance on Institutenlaan is via a container.
It is also possible to get to the Library via the corridor from the Theil building. You will then enter at West 0.
To go to East, take the route on the south side of the library building (the elevator side). There are push buttons to open the heavy doors automatically on floor 0 (sky bridge level).
East is a quiet area. Here you will find study spaces and study cabins to study individually and quietly. In West you can, in addition to studying, also talk and collaborate in a hushed tone. The Library offers study spaces with and without a PC in both East and West. You can reserve a study space with your ERNA account.
East 0 has two height-adjustable study spaces. These are suitable for students with a wheelchair. You can find these in the reservation system via:
Zone: Silence | Floor 0 | Orange
Category: Study space without PC
numbers 0.058 and 0.059
If you check Accessible, you'll also find other wheelchair-friendly study spaces.
There are two wheelchair accessible toilets in the Library:
- West 0: in the stairwell on the north side of the building ( this is the side of the tennis courts and the exit towards the metro ).
- West + 1: in the hall directly opposite the spiral staircase.
Services
The height of the self-checkout and return machines and the pick-up shelves to take your requested books from is suitable for wheelchair users.
Do you have problems handling, borrowing and returning books? Or do you have a problem navigating between the self-checkout and pick-up shelves? Ask for assistence on the spot at the information desk or send us your request in advance through the general online form.
Always check the current opening hours of the information desk.
The shelves with the study area collection and the course literature are low. But a number of bookcases of the Rotterdamsch Leeskabinet is quite high.
Do you have problems handling books from the shelves? Or is it difficult to navigate between study areas in the Library? Ask for assistence on the spot at the information desk or send us your request in advance through the general online form.
You can also request books from the study area collection in advance via sEURch.
Always check the current opening hours of the information desk.
It is possible to have required material copied for you. Ask at the information desk or send us your request through the online form. If you use the form, state whether you will collect the copies at the information desk or whether the Library will send them to you in digital form.
You will pay the normal self-service copying fees. The copied material will be ready for you the next working day.
Always check the current opening hours of the information desk.
The Library also has a study space with a PC on which Dolphin Supernova has been installed. If you are visually impaired or if you need adapted reading for other reasons, you can use this spot.
Dolphin SuperNova offers the following options:
- Magnify computer screen;
- Customise contrast with different colour schemes;
- Adjust the mouse to the desired size and/or colour;
- Read content of web pages, emails and documents aloud;
- Braille display support.
You'll find the study space in the special reservation system for students with a disability, with the link sent by the University Library, after registration by your study advisor:
- Zone: Silence | Floor +1 | Yellow
- Category: Study space with PC
- number 0.146
In the Library you can find the study space on the northeast side of the building on + 1 (the side of the tennis courts and the exit towards the metro). This part of the building is marked in yellow on the map.
We have a collection of coloured see-through sheets and reading strips. For people with certain visual impairments, laying the sheets or strips over text minimises glare and makes it easier to read.
They can also improve text readability when you have dyslexia and they can support a ‘chunk’ reading strategy (often advised to people with ADHD). You can borrow the sheets or strips at the information desk.
Always check the current opening hours of the information desk.
People might face difficulties reading e-books for a variety of reasons:
You get distracted by the online environment of an e-book
Sometimes it is possible to download the book or chapter and save it indefinitely as a PDF or EPUB file. In other cases, you can download the PDF version for a limited time to read offline. Download the book or chapter and turn off your internet for undistracted reading.
You have a visual impairment
Use a Read Out Loud function built into PDF and EPUB readers or which can be added as an extension to your internet browser.
Unfortunately, Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) doesn't have this feature. ADE is being used to access e-books that you can be downloaded for a limited time.
The white background of e-books makes reading difficult
Many e-readers offer the option to add a calming shade to your screen that reduces glare from the white background. There are also internet browser extensions with this feature. Search in your browser store for screen shaders.
For more tools and tips to read, watch or listen our digital resources in an adapted way, visit the library's online Digital Accessibility guide.
Contact
Improving the accessibility of our building and our services is an ongoing process.
Studying with a functional impairment at EUR
Erasmus University supports students with a functional impairment during their studies. Read more on Studying with a functional impairment for advice and support. At Accessibility on campus you'll find among other information about parking on campus for people with a functional impairment, accessible toilets, lockers and relaxation areas.
Floor plan Library | Floor -1 (street level)
East: light blue | silence area
West: purple | non silence area
Floor plan Library | Floor 0 (sky bridge level)
East: orange | silence area
West: green | non silence area
Floor plan Library | Floor +1
East: yellow | silence area
West: blue | non silence area
