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Services and Assistance > Accessing Services for Patrons With Disabilities
The following services are available for patrons with disabilities. For additional assistance contact a librarian.
General Services
Inquire at the circulation desk for assistance in retrieving materials from the floors.
A TDD [TTY] (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) is available at the reserve counter in Zimmerman Library. The number for this phone is: 277-4866. Another TDD is connected to the pay phone in the north exit of Zimmerman Library. Centennial, Fine Arts and Parish libraries also have TDDs. Ask for information at the Reference Desk in each library.
Alice Clark Room
The entrance to the Alice Clark Room is on the north wall adjacent to the Reference Desk on the main level of Zimmerman Library. It is a specially designated room that houses various assistive devices that facilitate and promote the use of the UNM University Libraries' collections for patrons with special needs. These needs may be mobility impairment, hearing loss or deafness, or various learning or other disabilities. However, the primary use of the room is focused on the provision of accommodations for visually impaired and blind library users. Among the various devices in the room, there are:
Lockers and storage areas are also available in the Alice Clark Room for qualified students with disabilities.
The room was named for Alice S. Clark who was the Associate Dean of the UNM University Libraries from 1974-1986, and under whose leadership the library first organized services for its patrons with special needs. Mrs. Clark spearheaded fundraising efforts within the University and the local community to purchase the technical aides which the room offers. Through her efforts the library's practice of seeking to provide essential services to patrons with exceptional needs was regularized and systematized, providing a strong foundation for the services and technology which are available today.
Tables in the room were a generous gift from Van H. Gilbert family. Van H. Gilbert was the architect for the Herzstein Latin American Reading Room project of which the Alice Clark Room was a small part. To contribute toward furniture and specialized equipment for the Alice Clark Room, or if you know of any person or organization that might be interested in making a donation, contact the UNM University Libraries Development Office at (505) 277-1267.