Earl Gregg Swem Library

at the College of William and Mary

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Library Catalog Swem Website

Swem Library at the College of William and Mary is committed to an environment that provides all persons, including individuals with disabilities, full access to materials, services, programs, and activities, as library resources permit.

Please see our Visitor's Guide for details on preparing for your visit, plus information about hours, directions, and parking.

ENTRANCES: 

• The library's front entrance, about one-third of a mile from the closest parking spaces, has two ADA-compliant ramps.  See details on our parking web page.
• Persons for whom the front entrance is inaccessible may contact the library about acessing the library through its back entrances. The library's back entrances, with ramps, have adjacent handicapped parking spaces.  These back entrances are located on Landrum Drive and are accessible only with an appointment.  If a back entrance is needed, please contact Swem Library's Circulation Department at 757-221-3072 or swcirc@wm.edu, preferably 48 hours in advance of your visit, so that staff can be scheduled to meet you.

ELEVATORS:  Elevators are available to all four public floors.

WHEELCHAIRS and OTHER MOBILITY EQUIPMENT:

• A push wheelchair is available; staff is available for pushing for a limited amount of time; please call in advance to arrange.
• All public service areas are wheelchair-accessible.
• Several public computer workstations for visitors on the library's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors are wheelchair-accessible.
• All student-staff-faculty computer workstations are wheelchair-accessible.
• Carts are available from the Circulation Department for patrons who need help moving a large number of items.
• If you bring your own wheelchair but wish to park it in the library while you walk around, that's fine.  Please ask at Circulation for suggested locations where your chair will be secure.

 

COLLECTIONS:  Most of Swem Library's collections, including the general collection, reference, and government documents, are housed in open stacks.  Portions of these collections are in compact shelving. Persons with mobility disabilities may request assistance from Circulation and Reference staff to reach materials and to move compact shelving.

TELEPHONES:  Public telephones are available on all four public floors, or ask for telephone assistance at any of our public service desks.  The public telephones can be used to call for library staff assistance.

Access to Branch Libraries

BIOLOGY READING ROOM

Millington Hall  Room 112 (1st floor)

757-221-1090

Handicapped parking spaces behind Swem Library, behind Rogers Hall, and in front of Phi Beta Kappa Hall.  Outside ramp on south side of Millington Hall, with automatic-open door.  Elevator access to all floors.

CHEMISTRY LIBRARY

Rogers Hall Room 204 (2nd floor)

757-221-2559

Two handicapped parking spaces in the service access parking directly behind Rogers Hall, off of Landrum Drive.  Ramp and automatic-open door.  Elevator access to all floors.

GEOLOGY LIBRARY

McGlothlin-Street Hall Room 219 (2nd floor)

757-221-2094

One handicapped parking space and handicapped-access entry available at the back of McGlothlin-Street Hall.  Use the service access road off of Landrum Drive.  Elevator access to all floors.

MUSIC LIBRARY

Ewell Hall  Room 250 (2nd floor)

757-221-1090

Handicapped parking spaces in the parking circle off Jamestown Road near Ewell Hall.  Outside ramp on west side of Ewell Hall, with automatic-open door.  Elevator access to all floors.

PHYSICS LIBRARY

Small Hall Rooms 161 and 261 (1st and 2nd floors)

757-221-3539

One handicapped parking space and a graded brick walkway available beside Small Hall's loading dock, off of Ukrop Way.  Additional handicapped parking spaces and a level brick walkway located near the Muscarelle Museum, off of Jamestown Road.  Access ramp to Small Hall located on the Jamestown Road side.  A self-operated chair lift is located on the stairs from the entrance floyer to the main hallway.  Elevator access to all floors.

 

Staff and Services in Swem Library

Library staff members are ready to assist any patron in locating and retrieving needed information or materials, including reading and interpreting the library catalog or other resources and using library equipment, such as photocopiers and microfilm readers.

For any service that might require a designated staff member, such as a research appointment or tour, please contact the appropriate departments below.

 

CIRCULATION DISABILITY SERVICES
757-221-3072 or swcirc@wm.edu

• Accompany patrons to the shelves and help pull materials.
• Retrieve library materials from shelves and hold them at the appropriate public service desk.
• Pull sections of materials from shelves and place them on a cart for a patron to browse.
• Assist with completing forms, such as an application for a library card.
• Assist with checking out library materials.
• Deliver and retrieve library materials on campus.
• Accommodate use of proxies to check out materials for a person with disabilities.
• Extend loan periods and waive late fines.

 

REFERENCE DISABILITY SERVICES
757-221-3067 or sweref@wm.edu

• Research assistance in person or via email, instant messaging, or telephone.
• Research appointments.
• Retrieval of reference and government information materials.
• Custom tours of the library.
• Identify and obtain special formats.

 

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS RESEARCH CENTER DISABILITY SERVICES   

757-221-3090 or spcoll@wm.edu

The Special Collections Research Center houses Manuscripts, Rare Books, and University Archives.  Staff will:

• provide assistance with using the center's online and print finding aids and databases to identify desired research materials
• retrieve all materials and, as time permits, staff may provide additional help. 
• provide limited research assistance in response to requests via email, mail, or telephone.
  

 

MEDIA CENTER DISABILITY SERVICES   

757-221-1378 or mediacenter@wm.edu

Assistance with Media Center equipment. Please contact the Media Center at least 48 hours in advance. Click here for more information on Media Center equipment and services.

 

ASSIGNED STUDY ROOMS  and LOCKERS   

757-221-3050 or 757-221-3072

Swem Library has a limited number of assigned study rooms and lockers for which College of William and Mary students, staff, and faculty with disabilities are invited to apply.  For more information, please call the telephone numbers above or click on the following links:  

• Assigned Study Rooms
• Lockers

Also, visitors with disabilities may ask at the Circulation Desk for temporary loan (same day) of a locker.

 

COPY CENTER DISABILITY SERVICES    

757-221-3116 or copyco@wm.edu

The Copy Center, housed in Swem Library and operated by IKON Corporation, provides photocopying, faxing, scanning, and other services. Please click here to learn more.  Copy Center staff are available to assist patrons with copying and other services.

Assistive Technology

Swem Library has some special equipment for use in the library to help patrons with disabilities. Please contact the specific department for more information.

1. Wheelchairs (push type): Circulation Department
2. Closed circuit TVs (CCTVs) that enlarge print or pictures: Reference Department and Special Collections Research Center.
3. Magnifying glasses: Reference Department; Special Collections Research Center; Circulation Department.
4. Carts to transport large numbers of items: Circulation Department
5. Personal amplifier to help persons with hearing loss:  Reference Department.

Campus and Community Resources

College of William & Mary Office of Equal Opportunity

College of William & Mary Dean of Students Disability Services

American Library Association Library Services for People with Disabilities Policy

More Information & Contacts

For more information or to request special accommodations, please contact:

• Mary Molineux, Reference, 757-221-3076 or msmoli@wm.edu
• David Morales, Circulation, 757-221-3058 or dnmora@wm.edu

 

To ensure staff availability, if you require special accommodations to enter or use our facilities, please contact the Circulation Department at 757-221-3072 or swcirc@wm.edu, preferably 48 hours in advance of your visit.