The University Libraries are committed to providing an accessible, inclusive experience for all library users.
We offer services and support to ensure equitable access to library materials and services and we will make every effort to accommodate accessibility requests. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Parking & Transit
- Pass & placard: Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm, you need both a university/visitor parking permit and a disability placard to park in designated accessible parking spaces on campus. After 5pm and on weekends, you only need a disability placard.
- Visitor passes: Weekday visitors who do not have a campus parking permit will need to purchase a yellow visitor day pass from Parking & Traffic. This pass, in conjunction with a disability placard, will allow you to park in any accessible parking space on campus. The closest accessible spaces to Belk Library are in the College Street Parking Deck and Turchin Center parking lot. See the map of parking lots and access ramps near the library.
- Transit: AppalCART provides paratransit service in wheelchair-accessible vans for locations near campus. Pre-registration and reservations are required.
- Dropoff/pickup location: The most convenient location for dropoff/pickup is the College Street bus circle. There is a short sidewalk with curb cuts from the bus circle to the back entrance of Belk Library.
Building Accessibility
- Entrances: Belk Library's exterior entrance has access ramps and power-assist doors.
- Elevators: All floors are accessible by elevator. Elevator locations are marked in purple on the floor plan.
- Restrooms: All library restrooms have accessible stalls. Single-occupancy restrooms are located on the fourth floor.
- Quiet floor and study rooms: The third floor is a designated quiet floor for those who need a study space with fewer distractions. You may also book a study room.
Access to Materials
- Item retrieval: For assistance retrieving items from the stacks, visit or contact the service desk. You may also request items and have them held at the desk for you. Faculty, doctoral, and distance/online students can request office/home delivery.
- Alternate formats: If you need library materials in an alternate format due to an accessibility concern, please use the Contact Form, select "Suggest Material for Library Purchase" as the category, and specify in your message that an alternate format is needed for accommodation. We can also borrow some items, such as large print versions of books, through Interlibrary Loan.
- Document conversion: SensusAccess is a self-service document conversion tool available to all students, staff, and faculty. SensusAccess converts text and image-based files into more accessible formats, including audio, Braille, or e-text formats.
- Online resources: If you encounter accessibility barriers while using the library website or databases, please contact us so that we can correct the issue and/or work with the database vendor to resolve the problem.
Software & Equipment
- The Assistive Technology Room (141) contains equipment that provides alternate ways to access and use library resources for people with disabilities related to vision, hearing, learning, or mobility. The room is open and staff at the Library Service Desk can help users get started.
- The Tech Checkout Desk offers laptops, tablets, noise cancelling headphones and other equipment for checkout.
Service Animals
- The University Library adheres to Appalachian’s Animals on Campus policy.
- In accordance with this policy, the library permits only service animals.