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Library Accessibility

The COS Library is committed to providing all members of our campus community with equitable access to library collections, information, and services, including students with disabilities.

The COS Library is located in the Learning Resource Center (LRC), which is Building 2 on the Weed Campus. Parking Lot C has multiple designated accessible parking spots near the walkway that leads to the front doors of the LRC. Parking is free.

Campus Map

There are no stairs leading into the LRC and the center pair of doors has an automatic, push button door opener. As you enter the lobby of the building, the Library will be at the far left end of the lobby. Restrooms are down a short hallway slightly right of center in the lobby and have accessible stalls. There are no stairs leading into the Library or the restrooms, and doors are wheelchair accessible.

The COS Library is a split level space. The Library's service desk (where staff work), as well as computers, printers, textbook checkout, book collections, study tables, and armchair seating are available on the entry-level main floor. The Library’s two study rooms are also on the main floor. One desktop computer is on a wheelchair compatible, height-adjustable table, as are the printer, scanner, microfilm reader, and catalog computer station.

The upper level (often referred to as the Lounge) has newspapers, bound journals, a small collection of audiobook CDs and anime DVDs, our board game collection, a couch, armchairs, and study tables. It can be reached by a short flight of stairs or by using the elevator lift next to the stairs. You do not need to ask permission to use the elevator lift but please don’t hesitate to ask at the service desk if you have any questions! The lift can be a little noisy in operation.

Study rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These spaces are wheelchair accessible but maneuvering to some parts of each room may be difficult. Study rooms are available to groups as well as to solo studiers seeking a quiet distraction-free space, to studiers wanting to listen to music without disturbing others, and to studiers looking for alternative lighting options (it has a lamp alternative to overhead fluorescents).

The Library follows College of the Siskiyous’ policies regarding service, assistive, and emotional support animals (Board Policy 3440 and Administrative Procedure 3440). In a nutshell: service animals are allowed in the Library, however assistive and/or emotional support animals are not allowed in campus buildings (with the exception of the Lodges).

Please ask at the service desk on the main floor if you would like staff to retrieve materials for you from the book shelves or from the upper level (Lounge).

The Library tries to provide access to the technology and equipment that students need for classes. Some of the items available for checkout include:

  • Laptops
  • Calculators for Statistics and Chemistry classes
  • Noise-cancelling headphones (we also sell cheap earbuds for $1.00)
  • Keyboards
  • Trackball mouse
  • Wireless and wired mouse
  • White noise generator
  • Webcam
  • Bluetooth speaker
  • Document holders (stand-alone and monitor clip)
  • Magnifying glass
  • Rolling backpack with laptop sleeve

Some items check out for the semester and others for shorter time periods. For the full list of equipment available for checkout, visit the Library's Laptop, Calculator & other Tech Checkouts page.

Students with disabilities may allow a proxy to check out library materials on their behalf. The materials will be checked out on the student’s account and the student is responsible for all materials borrowed on their account. To authorize a proxy borrower on your account, please contact the Library:

The Library has article, ebook, and streaming video databases from multiple vendors. While the COS Library considers accessibility when choosing databases in order to minimize issues, all library databases on the market at this time have accessibility challenges, especially for people who rely on keyboard commands and screen readers. If you have any issues navigating our database platforms or accessing database content, please contact the COS Library for assistance and we will help you get access to the content you need.

Kurzweil 3000

As a COS student, you have access to Kurzweil 3000’s Read the Web browser extension for Chrome, which will read web pages to you. All of the Library’s desktop computers, in-library use laptops, and study rooms have this extension on the Chrome browser.

You can also add it to your personal computer! To add the extension:

  1. Open Chrome
  2. Navigate to the Read the Web extension in the Chrome Web Store
  3. Click the Add to Chrome button
  4. On the pop-up window, click Add the Extension

To use it, whether on a library computer or your own laptop:

  1. Open the Chrome browser
  2. Go to the web page you want to have read to you
  3. Click on the Extensions icon in Chrome and Choose Read the Web
  4. Click on the Microsoft icon to login using your COS email address and password
  5. Click on the green “play” arrow to start hearing the audio
    1. This will start reading at the very beginning of the page and read through to the end and will include navigational link names, alternative text for images, etc. in addition to the main text. To start at a specific spot, click on the page where you want the reader to start and then click the "play" arrow.

Access to additional Kurzweil 3000 features may be available through Student Access Services (SAS).

Canvas Immersive Reader

College of the Siskiyous uses Canvas software to host all of our online classes; many in-person classes also use Canvas for sharing class materials and for homework. If you would like to have a Canvas page read to you, use the built-in Canvas Immersive Reader (instead of Kurzweil 3000). The Immersive Reader also lets you narrow your line focus, adjust text font and size, and background colors so that you can make adjustments that boost your learning!

Look for the Immersive Reader button at the top of Canvas pages when using a desktop or laptop. The Immersive Reader is not available for quizzes, assignments, or discussions, and is not currently available on the Canvas app for mobile devices. The How to Use the Immersive Reader in Canvas video (3:24 minutes) shows you how it works and its many features.