This section of the toolkit will introduce our virtual library and the services it can offer you.

University of the Built Environment’s e-Library provides a comprehensive and wide range of resources to support and enable you to succeed with your studies. These valuable resources include access to industry sources, databases, electronic journals and e-books. You will need access to a variety of different sources as you progress on your programme, as well as developing skills to help you with reading and research.

The Library team can help you with finding, choosing and using library resources, amongst many other things.

The University’s e-Library for all – removing barriers to access

University of the Built Environment’s e-Library recognises that everyone learns differently. That’s why we try to make our Library and learning materials as accessible as possible. Accessible e-Library and Information Services include:

• Text-to-speech functionality on HTML full-text e-journal articles and e-books,
• Alternative text (alt-text) to provide descriptive information conveying the meaning and context of visual items in a digital setting,
• Access keys for keyboard-only navigation,
• Transcripts and closed captions are provided to support videos,
• EPUB navigation and Digital Rights Management (DRM) free e-books, e-journals and scanned material. By using DRM-free digital e-books, e-journals and scanned resources via the Copyright Licencing Agency’s Digital Content Store (DCS), you have more options for navigating, printing, saving, copying/pasting and downloading files that are portable and transferable between devices and operating systems.

Please see our e-Library Accessibility Statement for details.

Alternative Format Service – The Brickfield Accessibility Toolkit  

University of the Built Environment have integrated the Brickfield Accessibility Tool within our Virtual Learning Environment to improve the accessibility of our modules and e-Library content. Learning resource files can be converted into formats that work best for you, by clicking on the accessibility logo next to resources. Depending on the document type of the source document, a number of conversion options are available in terms of accessibility. Take a look at the list below, and look out for the Brickfield Accessibility Tool icon on your learning materials within the VLE to explore alternative format options: 

Alternative formats available include:

Text formats

The Brickfield Accessibility Tool File Convertor can change the format of file PDF, Word Documents, PowerPoint type resources into alternative text-based formats such as Word – Doc, or DOCX,  RTF (Rich Text Format), Tagged PDF, HTML, Plain text and others depending on the source file.

MP3 Audio Files

The Brickfield Accessibility Tool File Convertor can convert written learning materials to Audio (MP3). Audio files in MP3 are great for people who want to read whilst on the move, or prefer to process audio rather than visual information. Files can easily be downloaded and stored on a smartphone.

Braille

The Brickfield Accessibility Tool can transcribe documents into Braille according to a number of (national) Braille systems and contraction levels. Once you have requested your file in this format, the convertor will deliver the resulting files as either portable Braille or Braille encoded for a particular Braille device or Braille character set.

Transcribed documents can be embossed on a Braille embosser, displayed on a Braille display connected to a computer or smartphone, or loaded on to a Braille notetaker.

E-Books – Multi page VLE resources

E-books or multi page VLE resources are reflow-able and allow users to change everything about their visual appearance. E-books can be scaled up without breaking the margins, fonts can be substituted, the background and foreground colour combination can be changed, as can the contrast, lines spacing, and scrolling direction to match the individual needs and preferences of the user. They can also be downloaded for use on a Kindle.

DAISY Structured Audio Books

DAISY books are structured audio books. Using a DAISY reader, the text is highlighted as the user reads. In addition, the user can navigate the document using the heading structure, pages and page numbers. Users can also insert bookmarks and change the visual appearance of the book.

Need Help?

If you need any support and advice on using the Library, please contact library@ube.ac.uk

It might be helpful to think about the following:

• Do you prefer audio formats for taking in information, e.g. podcasts, audiobooks, immersive readers?
• Do you use any coloured overlays or ‘dark mode’ when reading from a screen?
• Have you used an e-Library before? If so, did you experience any challenges or benefits to this?
• Do you know how to retrieve a journal article? An eBook?

If you have any questions about the Library, or would like to contact a Librarian, please contact library@ube.ac.uk