For People with Disabilities

In line with Towson University's Accessibility Commitment, the library seeks to provide an inclusive and accessible library experience.

You belong, and your contributions matter. This webpage addresses some of the most common barriers to library access, navigation, research, and learning. If you have other access questions or needs, please call our Ask Us Desk at 410-704-2456 or Chat with a Librarian.

If you encounter an issue with accessibility, either in the building or online, please report an accessibility barrier.

Entering the Building

Facing the entrance to the library, the accessible or automatic entrance is the rightmost door. The library is also accessible using a ramp on the right side of the entrance. Paratransit to the Library is available through Towson University. The nearest paratransit drop-off locations are Van Bokkelen Hall, Stephens Hall, Richmond Hall, and Newell Hall.

Some walkways and parking spaces, including the accessible spaces outside the Media Center, are currently unavailable due to campus construction. Accessible parking is currently available at the following locations:

Stephens Hall (6 spaces) - 7900 Stephens Ave, Towson, MD 21252
Newell Hall (7 spaces) - 7904 Stephens Ave, Towson, MD 21252
Science Complex (5 spaces) - Glen Drive, Towson, MD 21252

View the campus pedestrian map (PDF) for more information about walking routes throughout campus during construction.

Navigating the Building

The library's building directory describes the spaces and services on each floor. Stairs and two elevators are located in the main lobby on the left. An additional staircase and elevator are located in the back right corner of each floor.

Accessible Restrooms

Most of the library's restrooms contain multiple stalls. All restrooms include a wheelchair accessible stall. On the second, fourth, and fifth floors, the restrooms are located near the lobby-side entrance across from the elevators. On the main floor (floor 3), the restrooms are located in the back corner on the right when entering from the lobby. The gender inclusive restroom is also on the third floor between the Starbucks and the Study Lounge. It is single-stall and wheelchair accessible. To access the restrooms on the first floor, take the first left from the lobby. Turn left when you reach the corner, and the restrooms will be located at the end of the hallway.

Accessible Work Stations

We have one computer with assistive technology, two document scanners, a black and white text magnifier, headphones to use speech-to-text privately, and one wheelchair accessible adjustable height desk on the main floor (floor 3) outside of the ADS Testing Center (room CK 321). We have an additional computer with assistive technology and an adjustable height desk on the second floor outside of the Data Studio. NVDA is available on all public computers in the library.

Visit Towson University's Assistive Technology page for more information about what technologies are available at the Cook Library and throughout campus.

Research Help

Library users can get assistance from library workers in person at the Ask Us Desk on the main floor (floor 3) of the library or through virtual chat, email, phone, text message, or individual appointment. We are available to meet with users virtually on Zoom or Webex. Through these platforms, we can provide automated live captioning. Our Ask A Librarian chat feature is compatible with screen readers such as NVDA and JAWS. We can also help users to navigate specific databases and other electronic resources that present accessibility barriers. Custom research accommodations are available in collaboration with Accessibility and Disability Services.

Library Instruction

We plan library instruction sessions following accessibility best practices and Universal Design for Learning principles. Once a faculty member lets us know of any students requiring an accommodation, we make any necessary plans for the instruction session to ensure an equitable experience.

Request Books and Other Items for Library Help Desk Pick Up

All library users can request their books and other items to be picked up at the circulation desk on the main floor (floor 3) of Cook Library.

Complete the following steps to make the request:

Start at the library's homepage: libraries.towson.edu
Using Cook OneSearch, search for the book or item you want. 
Sign in to your library account using the link in the gold banner.
Locate the item you want to request in your results list and click on the title.
In the "Get It" section, select the "Request" link.
Choose TU Cook Library as the pick-up location (or TU Northeastern if you want to pick up the item at TUNE).
Review the information and if everything is correct, select "Confirm Request."
It may take up to 3 days for items to be pulled from the shelf. We will send you an email when the items are available for you to pick up.

Substitute Borrowing and Pick Up

You can pick someone to check out books and other items for you. If this interests you, submit this substitute borrowing form. We will need to add your substitute to our system before they can check out items for you.

Alternative Format Accommodation

As a library user registered with Accessibility & Disability Services (ADS), you can request alternative formats of library materials. Please keep in mind these requests can take ten business days to be completed, depending on the nature of the request.

In addition, users who are blind or print disabled may access materials from the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD). They provide access to books and magazines in Braille and large print, assistive technology trainings, accessible textbook conversion, and more. All services offered by the LBPD are free, but you must fill out a short application in order to gain access. Visit the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled website to learn more.

Printing

The library uses WEPA for printing. The height-accessible WEPA station is located in the lobby of the main floor (floor 3). Visit our Print, Scan, and Copy page for additional details on printing in the library.

Quiet Study

Floor 5 is the library's quiet study floor. There are additional quiet zones on each floor. Throughout the library, there are study carrels which are single-person desks that have partitions for more privacy and fewer visual distractions. In the Study Lounge on the third floor, there are study pods with a similar design that serve the same purpose.

We have several private study spaces. We have four telephone-booth style Zoom pods with doors along the back wall of the Academic Commons on the main floor (floor 3). You can also reserve a 2nd floor study room. Rooms CK213-A, CK213-B, CK213-H, and CK213-I are private, enclosed rooms.

The library also offers 5 noise cancelling headphones you can check out for four hours at a time. Use these anywhere in the building to minimize auditory distractions.

Service Animals

Towson University allows service animals to enter campus buildings or facilities if they meet the guidelines set forth in the Animals on campus policy. A service animal is not restricted to certain rooms or areas but may instead accompany its owner to any campus building to which the owner has access. Please refer to the policy for specifics on what is permitted.

Emergency Evacuation

In the case of an emergency evacuation, you should never use an elevator. If you are unable to use the stairs, ask for help or proceed to the nearest enclosed stairwell and wait for the Baltimore County Fire Department to arrive. Call 911 immediately if you are unable to evacuate. If an evacuation is not possible, a person may stay with you as long as it does not place them in danger and if there is another person that can report your location to responding firefighters. Please refer to Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with Disabilities for more guidance.

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