Parking

Located in the library's underground parking garage at the end of Talbot Street (behind Jones Dining Hall). Request a gate access card from the Office of Disability Services (ODS) located in the Student Center, Room 5-5.1 Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Additional parking is located outside the gate.

Entering the Library

A 4-tiered ramp is located on the south side (the side nearest to downtown) of the library. At the top of the ramp, the teaching theater of the Alkek Library will be on your right. Proceed forward around the teaching theater to the library breezeway. The automatic door is the last door on the right.

Another entrance is located on the east side of the library near Derrick Hall and is opened by an access card. Students, faculty and staff can obtain a card from the Office of Disability Services. Access cards are free of charge but replacement cards cost $7.

Leaving the Library in an Emergency:

Go into the nearest stairwell and shut the door so that the stairwell remains fireproof.
Firefighters and police know to check these areas and will assist you out of the building.
Do not use the elevators

Reference Services

Staff at the main floor reference desk can direct you to books, journals, and other sources for your research. You can also call them at 512-245-2686 or an send email to Ask a Librarian .

Retrieving Library Materials

Reference books, ask at the Reference Desk or Circulation Desk, floor 2.
Circulating books on floors 5-7, ask at the Circulation Desk, floor 2.
Audiovisual, reserve items and periodicals, ask at the Service Desk, floor 3.
Government documents, ask at the Government Documents Desk, floor 4.
Special collections items, ask at the Special Collections, floor 7, Monday through Friday 8-5pm.

While every effort is made to provide prompt assistance, the library staff may require additional time during peak hours and on the weekends. To retrieve a large number of items, please allow at least 24 hours turnaround time.

Returning Library Materials

Book drops are located by the automatic door facing Derrick Hall and by the library parking garage entrance off Talbot.

Copying

Copiers are located on all floors. Periodicals staff can copy microform materials and periodicals. The staff can usually accommodate requests within 24 hours. Pay for copies at the Circulation Desk, second floor or have the periodicals staff take the payment down for you.

Telephones

Sorenson videophone

A camera, video monitor, and phone combination that allows patrons to make telephone calls using sign language. The camera displays the patron signing to a certified ASL interpreter who relays the message to the called person. Also, patrons can sign directly to another person with a videophone. The remote control that operates the videophone can be checked out at the Periodicals Service Desk on floor 3.

TTY (Teletypewriter)(also called TDD Telephone Device for the Deaf)

Allows deaf/hard of hearing, or speech impaired people to communicate over the phone. The pay TTY is located in the lounge on floor 1.

Reserve Area Equipment

4-Track Talking Book Cassette Player

Plays the specialized 4-track tapes from the Texas State Library's Talking Book program. The player can be check out with a student ID and taken anywhere in the library.

Computer Lab Equipment - Fourth Floor

Please make an appointment with the computer lab personnel (512-245-2106) so they can familiarize you with the equipment. The Computer Lab is closed for maintenance Friday mornings until 10:30.

BookWise software

Uses the Kurzweil scanner to convert printed materials to synthesized speech. Text appears on a computer monitor, which highlights the words as they are read.

Clearview

Allows enlarged viewing of printed materials with a separate screen for computer program applications.

JAWS

Interactive computer program designed to make Windows and Windows-based applications accessible to the blind/visually impaired. The program provides screen magnification and speech synthesis for screen description, commands, creating, editing, and reading electronic documents.

Kurzweil

Scans printed materials and converts the text to synthesized speech. Features include volume and speed adjustments, headphones and tape recording jack.

myReader

Scans text and displays it on a monitor in the size and format the reader specifies. A control panel can adjust the size and speed of the text as it moves across the monitor. It also has a live mode which allows readers to magnify print without scanning the material. 

For more information about the equipment on the 4th floor, contact:
Phyllis Rowell at 512-245-2106 or pr05@txstate.edu.

SLAC (Student Learning Assistance Center) - Fourth Floor

SLAC offers help to all students in a variety of areas such as reading, writing, history, math, science, and study skills. No appointment is necessary but services are not available during final exam weeks and interim periods.

For more information, contact:
Carol Dochen at 512-245-2515 or cd03@txstate.edu.

Contact Us

For additional information or suggestions contact:
Barbara Potts at 512-245-3682 or bp02@txstate.edu.