2015-04-24
The Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is now a HathiTrust-designated Proxy and will provide special access to in-copyright materials found within HathiTrust to those on campus with a print disability.
A print disability is one that impedes a person’s ability to access print in the standard way; it can be a visual, learning, physical, or another type of disability.
“The HathiTrust Proxy is very exciting for the University Library. We envision students, faculty, and staff who might have print disabilities, such as dyslexia, needing larger print, not being able to hold a book, as well as other challenges using HathiTrust materials,” said J. J. Pionke, applied health sciences librarian at Illinois. “Having the Proxy allows readers with print disabilities to have access to our materials in a much more user-friendly way.”
The University Library may only provide materials it currently holds or has previously held to eligible patrons. These users will receive a PDF or text file including a cover sheet that clearly indicates the copyright status of the work and the terms of access and use. Text files may be suitable for screen readers or other devices; additionally, readers with print disabilities can enlarge the text in the PDF file they receive.
The Division of Disability Resources & Educational Services (DRES) at Illinois also serves as a HathiTrust Proxy on campus and provides text conversion services for those registered with DRES.
Eligible patrons needing to obtain digital copies of books though the Library’s HathiTrust Proxy should send a request to hathiproxy@library.illinois.edu or complete the online form located at go.library.illinois.edu/hathitrustproxy .
Visit www.library.illinois.edu/learn/users/usersdisabilities.html for more information about Library services offered for users with disabilities.
For more information on the Division of Disability Resources & Educational Services and text conversion services through DRES, visit www.disability.illinois.edu .
Do you have a story you’d like added to the Library News & Events? If so, please contact Heather Murphy ( hmurphy@illinois.edu ).