I mentioned in my other post about college libraries that I only checked out a single book from my college library while living on campus for four years. Even though I can count the amount of physical materials I borrowed on one hand (or rather one finger), I have used countless online college library resources, especially in my online graduate school program where I access digital content from libraries pretty much every day. Here are my favorite online college library resources for digital access, which are fantastic for students with print disabilities that benefit from accessible materials.
Full-text digital copies of materials and articles
I have a print disability, which means that I can’t read standard print materials like books, newspapers, magazines, and similar. As much as I would love to be able to pinch-to-zoom on a piece of paper or enlarge the font size, I find it’s much easier to search for full-text digital copies of materials and articles, because I can view or download them in a format that works well for me.
Some of the ways I access full-text digital materials include:
- Reading on my iPad, where I can position the screen at an angle and hold it closer to my face compared to my computer
- Viewing materials in an HTML format, which makes it easier for me to enlarge font sizes or use a simplified reading display
- Downloading a PDF that I can read offline and save in my class folder or add to a reading app like Capti or Voice Dream
- Checking out EPUBs that I can add to my eReader for reading without the glare of a screen
For students that need assistance locating full text or accessible copies of materials, I strongly recommend reading my post about finding research sources in accessible formats linked below.
Related links
- How I Find Research Sources In Accessible Formats
- How I Read Research Sources With Assistive Technology
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
- File Formats For Low Vision and Print Disabilities
- How I’m Using My eReader To Support Virtual Learning
- Capti Voice Narrator App For Low Vision
Getting accessible copies of textbooks
Several of my classes use textbooks that are available with digital access from the college library, which can be helpful for browsing optional readings or looking at other sources recommended by professors- I can enlarge the text or use screen magnification as needed. When I was working on a project for another class, my friend in a different major recommended that I read a chapter of a textbook from their class to help with my research, and I was thrilled to find the book they recommended on my college library website.
It’s worth noting that the online editions of textbooks may not be fully accessible for students with visual impairments if they use braille or rely heavily on image descriptions- many of the textbooks I would access did not have many pictures, so this wasn’t an area of concern for me. If possible, I recommend reaching out to disability services or an assistive technology specialist for details on how to request accessible textbooks for your specific program.
Related links
- How To Request Accessible Textbooks In College
- What I’ve Learned About Print Disabilities
- How Amazon Alexa Can Help You Study For Exams
Using software programs for research and data analysis
A popular resource for online college libraries is the virtual computing lab for software access, which connects students with software that is used for their classes, including statistical software, programming tools, and more. At my college library, the virtual software management program is a separate entity, though the library does maintain a list of software that students can access remotely. This was especially helpful when I ran into an issue with my academic MatLab license and was able to log in with my university account.
Digital scholarship/Data scholarship
Even before I changed my major, I was using my college library’s online resources for digital scholarship (also known as data scholarship) for searching through data sources and learning about data visualization for various projects. I ended up falling in love with data science and storytelling with data, changed my major to data science, and continued to use the digital scholarship center’s resources for classes as well as for personal side projects.
Meeting with research librarians
Both the online college library and in-person college library offer meetings with research librarians and librarians from the digital scholarship center to help students with research and gathering information on topics. I prefer to meet with librarians virtually because it is easier for me to bookmark sources and read information in real time on my computer.
Students can also request specific trainings for topics related to research and technology access, which can be delivered individually or to a group of students. Professors can also request trainings for groups of students as well.
Related links
- Helpful Ways To Bookmark Websites For Low Vision Users
- My Favorite Web Browser Extensions For Virtual Learning
Streaming videos with Kanopy
Kanopy is a free online resource available with a library card or through college libraries that offers a wide array of streaming video content, ranging from Criterion Collection movies to documentaries and video classes. I’ve watched several documentaries on Kanopy for various classes as well as for fun with friends.
Related links
Audio and Video Streaming from Databases
Another option for audio and video streaming content from online college libraries is to browse streaming databases, which cover a variety of genres, time periods, and styles. My personal favorite is the Digital Theatre+ database which has lots of different plays and performances, including titles from BroadwayHD’s streaming service, audio plays, and more. The Academic Video Online database also has a lot of entertaining titles with interactive transcripts.
Other online college library resources for digital access
- College digital library resources can be paired with library resources from public libraries in the surrounding area- I write about this in My Favorite Digital Library Resources For Low Vision
- Students taking virtual classes can still qualify to receive a library card from the public library near the college, since they go to school in the area. I mention more in my post How To Request Multiple Library Cards For Digital Content
- Many of these online college library resources can be used in-person as well- I talk about a few services at physical libraries in my post Awesome On-Campus College Library Resources
