Accessibility

We provide equitable access to library services, resources and facilities for all by recognizing individual needs. If you have accessibility needs, please ask a library staff member for assistance with:

  • retrieving material from the stacks
  • using Omni or other library search tools
  • accessing technology or facilities

Let us know how we can best assist you, we are happy to help.

If you require library material in an alternate format, please contact library@trentu.ca for assistance.

ACE Portal

The Accessible Content E-Portal (ACE) is a service that provides library materials in accessible formats to readers with perceptual disabilities who attend a participating Ontario university. 

ACE provides the following alternate formats:

  • Colour PDF
  • Black & white PDF
  • DAISY
  • ePub
  • Plain text

Accessing ACE

Library users with perceptual disabilities may register to receive an ACE token (an alpha-numeric code) in order to access accessible format texts in the ACE portal. 

We recommend that students with perceptual disabilities register with Student Accessibility Services to receive an ACE token and learn more about and access other accommodations that you need. You can contact Student Accessibility Services via their website, or email them at sas@trentu.ca

What is a Perceptual Disability?

In Canadian copyright law, "perceptual disabilities" includes disabilities that affects a person's ability to read or see literary works (such as books or articles) in their original print (physical) format. This includes:

  • severe or total impairment of sight or hearing or the inability to focus or move one’s eyes,
  • the inability to hold or manipulate a book, or
  • an impairment relating to comprehension;

(Copyright Act, s. 2)

ACE Self-Declaration Form

Access the Library's ACE Self-Declaration form here.

If you are a Trent University student with perceptual disabilities who chooses not to register with Student Accessibility Services to receive your ACE token, you can fill-out your information in the self-declaration form above to request an ACE token from the Library. 

If you are a Trent faculty or staff member with perceptual disabilities, you can also fill out the above form to request an ACE token.

ACE tokens are only available for students, faculty, or staff members who have perceptual disabilities. Please do not fill-out and submit this form if you already have an ACE token. If you have received an ACE token from Student Accessibility Services or the Library and it is not working, or you have other questions or concerns regarding ACE, please email library@trentu.ca.

The ACE Self-Declaration form asks you to confirm that you are a Trent University student, faculty, or staff member who has a perceptual disability. The form does not ask you to include any private information such as your diagnosis/diagnoses or medical documentation.

The Library requires registration for an ACE token with Student Accessibility Services or registration through the Self-Declaration form in order to access the ACE portal due to Canadian copyright law. 

User Privacy and Confidentiality

Trent University Library & Archives protects users’ privacy and personal information. In accordance with current privacy legislation, departments at Trent collect only personal information that is necessary to operate their programs, services and activities. Access to user information collected through this form is limited to employees of Trent University Library & Archives and Trent’s Student Accessibility Services who are responsible for distributing ACE tokens. All records, whether in electronic or hard copy, are retained in accordance with the University’s Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Policy and maintained in a secure environment. 

Using ACE

Once you have received an ACE token:

If the book you need is not available in ACE, contact library@trentu.ca to request digitization.

Captioned Video

We will provide, on request, a transcript or closed captioned version of any DVD in our collection for students with perceptual disabilities. Contact library@trentu.ca to request accessible video content.

For complete campus accessibility information, please visit Trent's AccessibilityHub.

Bata Library

  • Accessible washroom facilities on all levels
  • All-gender washroom facilities on levels 2, 3 and 4
  • Accessible ramp from Bata Library parking lot
  • Automatic doors from Bata Parking Lot and University Court
  • Elevators to all levels
  • Height adjustable desks in public study spaces
  • Counter height service desk

Durham Library

  • Counter height service desk
  • Accessible and all-gender washroom facilities Thornton Building A
  • Accessible entrance at the front of Thornton Building A

Bata Library has three designated individual study carrels for use by students registered with Student Accessibility Services. These carrels are located on levels 3 and 4:

  • BL 306.1
  • BL 306.2
  • BL 412.4

These carrels offer a quiet, individual study space with limited distractions so you can focus on your work.

Access to the carrels is via a coded keypad. Contact Student Accessibility Services to request an access code.