Skip to Main Content

Disability services: assistive technology, request and conversion services

This page provides information on services and resources available in the library as well as useful websites and resources to assist clients living with a disability.

Request a Literature Search

Need sources for your literature review? Struggling to find sources for your assignment, research proposal or thesis?

The Library can assist with a literature search, which is a systematic and comprehensive search for published, academic material on your specific subject/topic. How do you request one? Simply go to Request a literature search .

If you are experiencing problems accessing the form, please use this link. 

Services to clients who visit the Library in person

The following services are available :

  • designated areas equipped with assistive technology
  • entrance fees are not charged for an accompanying person
  • guide dogs are allowed in the Library
  • extended loan period for Library material
  • a wheelchair is available upon request
  • dedicated parking
  • Unisa braille Music Theory examination papers - 2012 & 2013 (pre-grade & grades 1-3) available in Library Archives
  • sign language interpreter available on request

Assistive technology available in the Library

The following assistive technology is available in the Muckleneuk Library, Pretoria, Research Commons, level 4 :

  • Sightsavers Dolphin Pens - screen magnifier and screen reader
  • NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) – free screen reader software
  • enPathia - accessible computer control devices 
  • Wide screen computer monitors
  • ZoomText large-print keyboards
  • Two desktop video magnifiers
  • Earphones

For assistive technology available at your nearest branch contact your nearest Branch Library

Useful links and free software

Welcome

The Unisa Library provides a physical and virtual environment of support for users living with a disability to access and manage the information they need for their teaching, learning and research activities.

Being an Open Distance Learning institution we serve both clients who can visit the Library in person and also remote clients.

The Library offers the following material in electronic format :

    

Audio book readers

The following audio book readers are  available for loan :

  • Blaze EZ
  • BookSense  
  • ClassMate Reader
  • Victor Reader Stratus

These devices can be requested via the lib-disability@unisa.ac.za mailbox or by searching for the specific device in the catalogue and will be delivered to a client's preferred address. The devices are pre-loaded with information about the services offered by the Library.

They are also available in the Audiovisual section, level 4 of the Muckleneuk Library, Pretoria where they can be borrowed in person.

Request a literature search

Are you a postgraduate student needing a literature review done on a research topic?

A literature review is a critical evaluation of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers. This online service is delivered by the Information Search Librarians Team to all Unisa staff and students.

How do I request a literature search?

  1. Login on myUnisa using your student number and myUnisa password
  2. Click on the More Sites button and then select Library
  3. Select the Literature search request form from the menu
  4. Complete the form and submit

We would like to recommend that you use Internet Explorer as your browser.

If you are already logged into Microsoft Office 365 with a different account, please log out and log in with your myLife credentials. Complete the Literature search request form in myUnisa as above.

Check your myLife mailbox for the acknowledgement email.

Please note this form can be used only for literature search requests. 

Services to clients who cannot visit the Library

Are you an undergraduate, honours, B Tech or  LLB student who needs to request or download material listed in TUT 101?

Download e-reserve articles

​http://oasis.unisa.ac.za/search/r

Type your course code in the search block

Request recommended books 

http://encore.unisa.ac.za

Type the title of your recommended book in the search block, select the relevant title from the results list and click on request.

If you are unable to use the above methods, you can send an email to the following mailbox :  

lib-disability@unisa.ac.za 

More information about requesting and downloading of material

Conversion service for Library material

Clients with print-disabilities can request conversions from print into a digital format by sending an email to lib-disability@unisa.ac.za

Material can be delivered to the client :

  • via email
  • on a CD/DVD
  • pre-loaded on an audio book reader
  • collect in person
  • via courier to a preferred address

Whom do I contact?

Have a question?

For braille & other specialised services

Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD)