In line with the University's Equalities Policy, Libraries & Collections are committed to providing inclusive, user-oriented services to support students and staff during their time at King's. Library staff are available to help users make full use of its services and facilities.
For further details, please check the sections below and get in touch.
Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology (AT) rooms spread across the five King's library sites.
AT rooms are bookable by registered users only. To register, contact the Disability Support and Inclusion Team by email disability@kcl.ac.uk
For more information about the software below please see Assistive Software information on the Disability Support and Inclusion Team (DSIT) webpages.
Each room is equipped with ergonomic workstations with adjustable desks and chairs, a scanner and a printer. You will need to bring your own Dragon headset - contact disability@kcl.ac.uk if you do not have a headset of your own to discuss options.
Software on each PC in an AT room
- Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional
- JAWS
- Abbyy Fine Reader
- Zoom Text
- Inspiration
- Text Help Read and Write Gold
AT room locations and access
Each AT room is marked AT on the floor plans linked below:
Use your King’s ID card to access the AT rooms at all the library sites.
How to book a room
- Once registered as an AT room user you will be provided with links to allow you to book your sessions.
- Rooms are bookable during library opening hours, library staff will be present during staffed hours to guide you to the AT rooms and booths.
- Rooms are available for one hour slots (with a maximum of three hours per day).
- If you are struggling to book please contact the Library via LibAnswers, our live chat service.
If you prefer, you can email library@kcl.ac.uk - We aim to respond to emails within one working day and to resolve all queries within five working days.
SensusAccess
SensusAccess is a self-service option for accessible formats. It allows you to convert documents that would normally be inaccessible. These include image-only PDF files, scanned documents, pictures of text and Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.
Documents can be converted into a range of alternate formats, including:
- Digital Braille
- MP3
- DAISY structured audio books
- E-books
Conditions of use
You can make an accessible copy if you own the copyright (eg. it's your own work), have permission from the copyright holder, if the copyright has expired, or if it's for someone with a disability preventing or impeding access to printed material. If so, you need to agree that:
More information can be found on the King’s copyright pages. You can also contact copyright@kcl.ac.uk for advice.
SensusAccess is available to all King’s College London students, staff and alumni who have a King’s email address (i.e. …@kcl.ac.uk).
Help
SensusAccess provide useful Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), videos and guides.
Please contact the Disability Support and Inclusion Team if you have a print impairment and would benefit having access to core reading in an accessible format
Using SensusAccess to convert a file
(If the box below is blank, you will need change your cookie preferences - click on the blue and white cookie icon on the bottom left of the screen to make changes and then refresh this page to view the SensusAccess file convertor)
Equipment
Video magnifiers
Video magnifiers are available in some of the AT rooms, please check the AT room descriptions when booking. These machines allow you to:
- vary magnification levels, to get very high levels of magnification
- get a comfortable reading distance
- vary reading distance
- get a large field of view
Loans
Book fetching service
If you are registered with the Disability Support and Inclusion Team (DSIT), we can collect items from the shelves in your home library for you. All you need to do is request them from Library Search.
- When the item is available for you or your support worker to collect, you will be notified by email
- Items are held in the collection area for one week
- You can check the list of items you have requested in your account on Library Search
- This does not apply to 24 hour loan or reference only items.
Inter-site book requests
If you are registered with the Disability Support and Inclusion Team (DSIT), we can transfer items available at another site to your home library for you. All you need to do is request them from Library Search.
Inter-site books are supplied under the following conditions:
- We aim to have the items ready for you to collect within 5 working days and you will receive an email when the item is ready
- We aim to notify you after 3 days if there are problems locating the item you have requested
- Questions relating to this service can be dealt with by Library staff via LibChat or email
- Once you have requested an item, you can only change the collection site before the item goes into transit or arrives at the site: if you need to change it whilst the book is being sent for collection, please ask library staff to do this for you
- There are limits on how many total requests can be made by you at any one time. These are the same limits as for reserving books
Inter library loans
All College staff and students, as well as staff from affiliated NHS trusts, may make requests for books, chapters or journal articles. Material available at King's cannot be requested through this service. Before making a request, please check Library Search to make sure that the item you require is not already available at King's or at Senate House Library. For further information and a link to our Interlibrary Loan request form, please see our Interlibrary Lending FAQ page.
Extended loan period
Any disabled student who has recorded a disability on their student record will receive extended library loans (1 week loan extended to 2 weeks).
Academic Support Workers
If you have an Academic Support Worker to assist you, we can arrange access to the Libraries for them.
How to get access for your Academic Support Worker:
- Access can be arranged directly from the Disability Support Service who will request Estates and Facilities to obtain a King's ID card
- Please contact the Library in order for us to create a library record for your support worker
- Your support worker will have a separate ID, so they will then be able to return, borrow and reserve books on your behalf
- To comply with Data Protection, they will not have access to any details on your record, including books you have borrowed yourself
- When a reserved book is ready for collection an email notice will be sent to you, so you can arrange for your support worker to come in and collect the item