Disability and Special Needs Access

The Mikkelsen Library is committed to providing accessibility to library materials, programs, and services to all users.

All staff working in the Library will make every effort to accommodate reasonable requests from users with disabilities and special needs. If your disability is invisible, please identify yourself as having a disability when you seek assistance.

If your needs are not met by the policies and procedures described in this document, please notify the Library. We will examine and, if necessary, extend our policies and procedures to appropriately accommodate your needs.

Locating Materials
Staff will make every effort to assist you in obtaining information from any equipment or resource that is inaccessible to you.  Adjustable tables to accommodate wheelchairs are available.  Wireless laptops can be checked out for use anywhere within the library building.

Retrieving Materials
If you find that library stacks or other areas are inaccessible to you, please ask staff for assistance.  Staff is generally available to immediately retrieve materials.  You may choose to return for the material later or to have the material mailed to you.

Proxy Borrower Card
You may designate an individual to borrow books in your name. That individual will be issued a "proxy borrower card." Please ask at the Circulation desk of the Library for further information.

Copying Materials
If you are unable to use a copier or printer, staff will make copies for you.  Bring materials to be copied to the Circulation desk. Generally, staff is available to make copies and printouts.  You may choose to leave the material and pick up your copies later or have the material mailed to you. All copying must be in compliance with U.S. copyright law.

Renewals
To renew items, you can call the Circulation desk at 605.274.4921 or renew materials yourself using the on the Library’s Web-based Catalog.

Adaptive Equipment in the Library
Some of the adaptive equipment maintained by the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities & Special Needs is housed in the library. 

Kurzweil Reader –- Scans materials and reads to student using text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis technology. 

Merlin Desktop Magnifier—Enlarges text and objects.

Video Phone – Phone conversations can be conducted using sign language.

Restrooms
The men’s and women’s restrooms on the main level and lower level are ADA-accessible.  A unisex bathroom that is fully ADA-compliant is also available on the main level.

ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act (PL 101-336), in its broadest definition, is a landmark legislation that extends civil rights protection to people with disabilities. These rights include equal access to employment, public services, public accommodations provided by private entities, transportation, and telecommunications. A copy of the Americans with Disabilities Act is available online. 

Section 504
In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, qualified persons with disabilities are given accommodations and services to ensure equal access.

Campus Resources
Services for Students with Disabilities & Special Needs
Mortenson Center - Career Center Suite
(605) 274-5503
Susan Bies
Director, Student Academic Support Services
This office provides a wide range of academic support services to students with disabilities and special needs. Some of the services include finding alternative ways to fulfill course requirements; use of innovative teaching techniques; tailoring requirements to individual needs; and adapting tests to assure measurement of a student's knowledge, not the disability. All contacts and assistance are handled confidentially.

Library Resources
Access to Services, Collections, Programs
Jan Brue Enright, Circulation/Reference Librarian
Telephone: 605.274.4493

Building Policies
Ronelle Thompson, Director, Mikkelsen Library
Telephone: 605.274.4921