Kelvin Smith Library is committed to providing all members of the Case Western Reserve University community with equitable access to library resources, services, and facilities.
Facilities
Spaces
All KSL spaces, including entrances, elevators, seating, and bathrooms–including an all-gender bathroom–are ADA compliant. See the interactive map for more information about KSL facilities.
Parking and Transportation
Parking locations near KSL include street parking on East Blvd (metered) and Lot 29. See Access Services for more information about campus parking and accessible campus shuttle routes. There are also a number of accessible public transit options that stop near KSL.
Technology
Accessibility Features on Mac and Windows
Find information here about the built-in accessibility features on Mac and Windows.
Assistive Technologies
The software programs Read & Write Gold and MathType are available to all members of the CWRU community to download for free at the Software Center. Read & Write Gold has the ability to read aloud text in documents, PDFs, and web pages. It also has a speech-to-text feature that turns spoken words into written words. For more information about Read & Write Gold, please see its list of features and of text-to-speech commands. MathType allows screen readers to read and edit equations. It supports the math markup languages TeX, LaTeX, and MathML.
CWRU offers additional assistive technologies (ATs) to students who meet with Disability Resources and are approved for accommodations. These technologies include, but are not limited to: JAWS Reading Software (screen-reader software), E-Text/EPub Textbooks (digital textbooks), Comtek RF Hearing System (to assist those with hearing disabilities), and CART Transcription (transcription service). Please contact Disability Resources at disability@case.edu for more information about ATs available to students.
Digital Accessibility
To learn more about digital accessibility, see CWRU’s digital accessibility page, a collaborative effort by Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLTaccessibility@case.edu), Disability Resources (disability@case.edu), and University Marketing and Communications (webteam@case.edu).
Optical Character Recognition
In order to work with some screen-reader software, documents must first be text-searchable. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software, which is available on Adobe Acrobat Pro, can do this. All KSL computers have Adobe Acrobat Pro. On a KSL computer, sign into Adobe Acrobat with your CWRU network ID and password. To use OCR, go to the “enhance scans” function, and then select the document you would like to make text-searchable. For more information about using OCR on Adobe Acrobat, see the OCR Research Guide.
Like Adobe Acrobat, the software OmniPage can make documents text-searchable. It is a stronger tool than Adobe Acrobat and is available on the Freedman Center scanners. For help using OmniPage, please contact the Digital Scholarship Team at freedmancenter@case.edu.
Borrowing Accommodations
HathiTrust Accessible Text Request
HathiTrust is a digital collection containing millions of digitized items from academic and research libraries around the world. As a HathiTrust member, KSL can provide eligible CWRU affiliates with print disabilities an accessible copy of any book in the HathiTrust collection, regardless of the book’s copyright status. For more information about this service, please contact KSL's HathiTrust staff at hathitextrequest@case.edu.
Adding an Authorized Borrower
If you are registered with the university as having accommodations and would like to add an authorized borrower to your account (another CWRU user who is able to check out materials on your account), please contact Josie Cotton at josie.cotton@case.edu. In your email, include the name of one authorized borrower and the length of time you are allowing them to check out materials for you (maximum of one year; can be renewed for additional years). The authorized borrower must present a CWRU ID at the Service Center before checking out any materials. Please note that patrons with authorized borrowers are responsible for their own library accounts, including any materials that their authorized borrowers pick up for them.
Research Help and Locating Alternative Formats
For help with research, please contact your department's Research & Engagement Librarian (REL). RELs are available via ASK KSL, as well as by appointment request. RELs can assist in finding digital versions of print or older scanned materials to maximize accessibility within course materials or presentations.
CWRU Resources
Requesting Accommodations
- Office of Disability Resources (for students)
- Office of Equity (for faculty and staff)