The Benjamin S. Rosenthal Library, completed in 1988, is an architecturally barrier-free facility: rampways, quad handled doors, and one punch-pad door promote easy access to the building. Elevators to all levels and wide main aisles give access to all six floors. Wheelchair accessible photocopiers, rest rooms, water fountains, and telephones further facilitate full use of the building for all patrons.
Where needed, materials may be paged from the main floor circulation desk. The Queens College Libraries cooperate closely with the campus Office of Special Services for Students with Disabilities. Individual tours can be arranged for students registered with this Office.
Library contact person: Evelyn Silverman 718-997-3705/3679.
The Library is fortunate to house the CUNY Assistive Technology Satellite Center at Queens College. Under the direction of the College's Office of Special Services for Students with Disabilities, Room 313 has been set aside to house a host of state-of-the-art assistive technologies. Because CUNY already has some facilities that provide excellent access to blind/low vision and deaf/hard of hearing students, the Queens Satellite has focused itself more strongly on providing access for students with motor disabilities. Thus the Center provides on-screen keyboarding; a head-mouse, alternate keyboards and keyguards, as well as reading machines, speech recognition software, screen reading software, Braille conversion software and a Braille embosser. Other technologies are also available.
Both students with disabilities as well as CUNY disability service providers may come to the Center for training on particular technologies. The Center can also be used as a resource center for providers who wish to purchase assistive technologies for their home campuses. For further information contact the center at 718-997-3775.