Accessibility and Welfare

Accessibility and Welfare

The Disability Resource Centre

The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre provides confidential advice and support for students with disabilities and accessibility needs.

You can inform the University about a disability through the Tell us about your disability Student Support form. This allows you to request reasonable adjustments for academic work, access assistive technology, and receive further support. You can submit a Student Support Document at any time, including before you arrive at Cambridge.

Magdalene Library Services

Equipment

The New Library offers a range of equipment for students to use, including book stands, laptop stands, docking stations, writing slopes, and blankets. Ear plugs are available during Easter term. These items are kept on the ground floor. A standing desk converter is located by the bathrooms. If there is anything else that would be useful, please let us know.

Click and Collect

Students who have disclosed a Student Support Document to the College Library can use Click and Collect for any item. To request items, complete the form, and Library staff will fetch them for collection from the ground floor.

All students can also use Click and Collect for items listed under 'Reserve Collection'.

Individual bookable desks

Three desks, one on each floor, are available for students who have disclosed a Student Support Document to the Library. These can be booked in advance for morning, afternoon, or evening slots on weekdays. Consecutive slots can be booked, and reservations open one week in advance.

  • You can check availability and make a booking on the Cambridge Libraries Calendar.
  • You can arrive at any point during the timeslot.
  • These desks are available to any student while they are not booked, a sign on them will indicate when they are booked.
  • Please note: the Ground floor desk is a standing desk converter.  

Magdalene Library Collections

The collections listed below are on the ground floor. If you’d like to suggest an item for purchase, please use our Recommending Items Form.

Welfare and Wellbeing

Books on a range of topics to support health and wellbeing. Browse the Welfare Collection in iDiscover.

Study Skills

Books to support academic skills, including research, writing, referencing, critical thinking, and exam preparation. Browse the Study Skills Collection in iDiscover.

Board Games

A growing selection of board games is available for short-term loan (4 days). These are for borrowing only and should not be played in the Library. Browse the Board Game Collection in iDiscover.

University Library Services

Cambridge University Libraries Training - A calendar showing the various research skills sessions available, including sessions for postgraduates, Phd and Mphil students. 

Documentary Delivery Services - The homepage for a range of services including scan and deliver, inter-library loans and e-legal deposit.

UL Click and Collect - Postgraduates, and undergraduates who have disclosed a student support document, can use the University Library’s Click and Collect service to request 5 items. 

Ebooks Libguide - Information about how to request and access ebooks, e-resources, and alternative formats. 

Cambridge Libraries Accessibility Libguide - Provides information about accessibility and libraries including spaces, equipment, alternative formats and the University wellbeing ebook collection.

Acoustic booths - Booking link for the individual soundproof booths in the UL and Faculty Libraries. 

Sensus Access - A free resource which converts PDFs, JPEGs and other files into an e-book, text file, audio or braille.

Useful Resources

AccessAble - Provides accessibility guides for locations and venues across the UK.

Diversity and Ability - Pulls together useful resources, programs, tools and guides.

Flora App - A time management app to help with distractions. Block apps and notifications while you grow a virtual tree on your phone, build up a forest and unlock new trees as you focus! 

Open University Study Skills - Provides guidance and resources to support academic and life skills.

NaturalReader - A free text to speech conversion tool.

Study Skills: Reading on Screen - A LibGuide providing help and tips on managing screen reading and reducing fatigue.