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Home Libraries Accessibility Spaces and Facilities

Accessibility of the University Libraries’ Spaces and Facilities

This page has overviews of how to access and navigate the University Libraries’ locations. The Law Library is administered by the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Lawand is not included here.

Table of Contents

Ned R. McWherter Library

Transportation and Parking

  • Public transportation
  • The nearest bus lines are the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) Route 2 Madison and Route 50 Poplar.
  • Patrons with disabilities that prevent them from riding the MATA fixed-route bus system or traveling to or from bus stops maybe be eligible to use the MATAplus paratransit service.
  • Parking
  • Accessible permit parking
  • Patrons must register for Accessible Parking with Parking and Transportation Services.
  • Nearby Priority Permit lots with accessible parking include Lot 55 on Veterans Ave., Lot 45 along Norriswood Ave. (currently closed due to construction), and Lot 40 (the Fogelman Drive Garage).
  • The nearest General Permit lot with accessible parking is Lot 44 off Central Ave.
  • Accessible visitor parking is available in the Fogelman Drive Garage.
  • Blue Line Campus Shuttle
  • McWherter Library is serviced by the free Blue Line campus shuttle service Main Campus Blue Route, Park Avenue Campus Gray Route, and Evening/Holiday Route.
  • All buses are wheelchair accessible. The bus lowers to the sidewalk and deploys a ramp to allow boarding, and each bus has two wheelchair spaces.
  • Any patron can ride the Blue Line before 5 PM. Riders after 5 PM must show their UofM ID.

Entering the Library

  • The entrance to McWherter Library is on the west side of the building facing Emeriti Grove and Dunavant Plaza.
  • The entrance has automatic doors and does not require ramps or stairs to access.
  • The front doors lead into a small entryway that connects to the main interior of the library and to Einstein’s Bagels (Rm. 100). The library’s interior doors are automatic, and the door to Einstein’s Bagels has a door actuator.

Navigating the Library

  • McWherter Library Floor Plans and Map
  • Four public elevators located in the center of the building east of the rotunda provide access to all four floors.
  • Door actuators are available for the doors at the entrance to Government Publications (Rm. 107) facing the elevators, to the entrance to the Learning Commons (Rm. 110) facing the southwest of the rotunda, and to the main entrance to the Center for Writing & Communication (CWC) (Rm. 110B).
  • The entrance connecting Government Publications (Rm. 107) and the Learning Commons (Rm. 110) and the entrance to the Learning Commons (Rm. 110) facing the southeast of the rotunda should be propped open during opening hours.
  • Restrooms and drinking fountains
    • There are group men’s and women’s restrooms with accessible stalls on each floor near the elevators. Only the first-floor restrooms have door actuators.
    • There are two single-occupancy, gender-neutral restrooms (Rms. 331A & 331B) on the third floor, located in the southwest corner of the building. These restrooms do not have door actuators, and they are in a small hallway without door actuators.
    • There are drinking fountains located outside each group restroom. The drinking fountains on the second floor have automatic water bottle fillers.

Study Resources

  • The Assistive Technology Lab (ATL) provides access to state-of-the-art assistive hardware and computers with assistive software for students registered with Disability Resources for Students (DRS) who have gone through an orientation. It is in the Learning Commons (Rm. 110).
  • Reservable group study rooms are available, ranging in size from capacities of 5 to 25 people.
    • The Collaboration Spaces (capacity: 6-10 people) and group Study Rooms (capacity: 5 people) are located on the third and fourth floors.
    • The 25-capacity room, the Fishbowl (Rm. 110A), is located off the Learning Commons (Rm. 110) on the first floor. The Fishbowl is wheelchair accessible.
    • If the Fishbowl is unavailable, there is a wheelchair accessible table in Learning Commons (Rm. 110) next to a whiteboard.
  • There are a variety of quiet, individual study spaces available for distraction-free work.
    • There are two reservable individual Study Rooms on the fourth floor.
    • There are individual study carrels on the third floor. Keys to a carrel can be checked out at the Checkout Desk in the Rotunda on a first come, first served basis.
    • These individual rooms are not wheelchair accessible.
  • Some furniture in the library is taller and designed to be wheelchair accessible. This furniture is marked with an accessible icon. [photo of icon]
    • 1st floor: accessible table in Learning Commons (Rm. 110) near the west windows. 2nd floor: accessible table south of the elevators near the microform computers and the large-format book scanner.
    • 3rd floor
    • Accessible table in the southwest corner of the building near group study room 332.
    • 2 accessible cubicles near the east windows.

Baptist Memorial Health Care Library (Health Sciences Library)

Transportation and Parking

  • Public transportation
  • Parking
  • Blue Line Campus Shuttle
    • The Health Sciences Library is serviced by the free Blue Line campus shuttle service Park Avenue Campus Gray Route and Evening/Holiday Route.
    • All buses are wheelchair accessible. The bus lowers to the sidewalk and deploys a ramp to allow boarding, and each bus has two wheelchair spaces.
    • Any patron can ride the Blue Line before 5 PM. Riders after 5 PM must show their UofM ID.

Entering the Library

  • The Health Sciences Library is in the Community Health Building (4055 North Park Loop). Both entrances to the building have door actuators.
  • The library is on the second floor. Elevators are available.
  • The entrance to the library does not have door actuators.

Navigating the Library

  • The Health Sciences Library is on a single floor with no doors or stairs within.
  • Restrooms are available on the second floor of the Community Health Building, near the elevators. The restrooms do not have door actuators.

Study Resources

  • There are individual study carrels for private study along the far wall of the library. These carrels have a sliding door for privacy. They are not wheelchair accessible.
  • There are three reservable group study rooms for 1-4 patrons. There may be barriers to using a wheelchair with the tables in the rooms.

Music Library

Transportation and Parking

  • Public transportation
    • The nearest bus lines are the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) Route 2 Madison and Route 50 Poplar. The nearest bus stop for both is Central Ave. at U-M Crosswalk.
    • Patrons with disabilities that prevent them from riding the MATA fixed-route bus system or traveling to or from bus stops maybe be eligible to use the MATAplus paratransit service.
  • Parking
  • Blue Line Campus Shuttle
    • The Music Library is serviced by the free Blue Line campus shuttle service Main Campus Blue Route and Evening/Holiday Route.
    • The nearest stop for all routes is the Carpenter Complex. However, the Desoto Loop stop, which is serviced by both routes and the Park Avenue Campus Gray Route, is not significantly further away and does not require crossing a city street.
    • All buses are wheelchair accessible. The bus lowers to the sidewalk and deploys a ramp to allow boarding, and each bus has two wheelchair spaces.
    • Any patron can ride the Blue Line before 5 PM. Riders after 5 PM must show their UofM ID.

Entering the Library

  • The Music Library is in the Rud E. Scheidt School of Music Building (3775 Central Ave.) on the first floor in room 115 on the building's west side.
  • Patrons accessing the Music Building from Central Ave. will take the ramp between the Music and Theater buildings to access the building on the first floor. This door has a door actuator.
  • Patrons accessing the Music Building from campus's interior will use the ramp from the parking lot to the basement floor. This door has a door actuator. An elevator is just past the entrance that can take you to the first floor.
  • The doors to the Music Library do not have door actuators.

Navigating the Library

  • The Music Library is on a single floor with no doors or stairs within.
  • The nearest restrooms are just around the corner from the Music Library on the first floor. After exiting the Music Library and turning left, an accessible restroom is on the right after turning right into the hallway.

L. Gobbel Library (Lambuth Campus Library)

Transportation and Parking

  • Public transportation
  • Parking
    • The nearest accessible parking spaces are in the lot on West King St. next to the library.
    • Additional accessible parking is outside the Varnell Jones Administration building off Lambuth Blvd.

Entering the Library

  • The main entrance is accessible by ramp and an automatic door. This entrance faces The Quad.
  • There is also a separate entrance to the building's lower level accessible by ramp and an automatic door. This entrance faces Sprague Hall.

Navigating the Library

  • There are no elevators within the library. The second level and lower level can only be accessed from the main level by stairs.
    • Patrons who need access to the collections on the second level (general circulating collection F-Z, Young Adult collection) can place them on hold [link to hold information] and pick them up at the checkout desk on the main level.
    • The Family Room on the main level can be booked as an accessible study room for patrons unable to access the second level study rooms. Ask at the checkout desk on the main level for access.
    • The lower level can be accessed directly by ramp from the outside of the building.
  • Restrooms
    • The restrooms do not have door actuators.
    • Single-occupancy, gender-neutral restrooms are available on the main floor and the basement floor.

Study Resources

  • Study rooms
    • There are six study rooms on the second level.
    • Study rooms can be reserved online.
    • The study rooms are only accessible by stairs. Patrons who cannot access the second level can use the Family Room on the main level.
  • Family Room
    • The Family Room on the main level consists of the Juvenile collection and a student-use computer. It is designed to support patrons with children.
    • The Family Room can also be booked as an accessible study room for patrons unable to access the second-level study rooms.
    • Ask at the checkout desk on the main level for access.