Accessibility Information for MERIT Library

This page contains accessibility information specific to MERIT Library (within the Teacher Education Building at 225 N. Mills St.). For general accessibility information about all UW-Madison Libraries, see Accessibility.

Contact information

For accessibility questions for MERIT’s space in the Teacher Education building, please email: library@education.wisc.edu.

For more information, or to request an accommodation, please email: accommodation-request@library.wisc.edu. Please do not share your disability or medical information in your email message. If further information is needed, you will be notified.

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Accessing the Library

Entrances

  • The MERIT Library is located on the 3rd floor of the Teacher Education Building (TEB).
  • TEB has an accessible entrance, located on the W. Dayton Street side of the building (street-level with power operated doors).
  • Other entrances:
    • N. Mills Street [main] entrance has multiple stairs up to doorways
    • Clymer Place entrance has multiple stairs down to doorways
    • East side of the building, near Lot 92 (offers gentle paved slope leading to a first-floor entrance)
  • Elevators or stairs are available in the building from each level to access the 3rd floor library (see interior signs for navigation).
  • Guests entering and exiting the library on the 3rd floor will pass through a security gate. This gate does not have a push bar or swinging barrier to impede entry.
  • Campus accessible entrance list

Elevators

  • Teacher Education has 2 adjacent elevators on north-side of the building, accessible from every floor/level.
  • MERIT Library’s primary material collection is on the 4th floor.  To access:
    • Pass through the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) entrance and use the labeled glass door on the right to re-enter MERIT library– both have push bars.
      • NOTE: CCBC hours differ from MERIT Library. To access MERIT’s 4th floor collection when CCBC is closed, see MERIT Service Desk within the 3rd floor library.

Parking & Transportation

  • Parking is limited at and around the Teacher Education Building and MERIT Library.
  • Some metered street parking may be available on N. Mills Street and N. Brooks Street.
  • The nearest public parking lot options:
    • Grainger Hall Garage (Lot 7) at 325 N. Brooks Street
    • Lake & Johnshon Ramp (Lot 46) at 301 N. Lake Street.
      • NOTE: No visitor parking access allowed after 9 p.m.
  • Bus stops:
    • Access to multiple east-bound bus routes on W. Johnson Street (next to the Educational Sciences Building).
    • Access to the east-bound campus route 80 bus found on W. Dayton Street.
    • Access to the Monona Express (south-bound) on N. Mills Street.
  • Campus accessible parking stall list and map

Emergency / Evacuation Procedures

  • If you cannot self-evacuate for any reason, dial 9-1-1 and state your location. UWPD dispatchers will relay this information to responding personnel.
  • Areas of Rescue Assistance (ARA) locations within Teacher Education Building:
    • 1st floor accessible entrance (SE corner)
    • 2nd floor by room 204
    • 3rd floor area at top of stairwell
    • 4th floor area at top of stairwell
    • 5th floor area at top of stairwell
  • Do not use the elevator in fire emergencies.
  • In case of severe storms, occupants should seek shelter in designated shelter areas which could include bathrooms, stairwells, basement (1st floor TEB), and interior hallways away from windows.

Interior Space Accessibility

Accessible Furniture

  • Most chairs at computer stations in the MERIT Library are height-adjustable, and do not have arms.
  • While not height-adjustable, most of the large study tables in our 3rd floor space are at an accessible height.

Reservable Study Rooms and Spaces

  • Our spaces can be reserved using the EMS scheduling portal or by contacting the MERIT service desk by phone at 608-263-4750 or by email at library@education.wisc.edu.
  • Conference Room 302 is unlocked during open hours, and available for walk-in use, if not reserved.
  • To make a reservation for our Audio/Video Small Studio (Room 122) contact our service desk staff.  Please note: A key is required for access to the room (see Service Desk) and a brief training session is required before first use.
  • All active classroom spaces (Room 336 and Room 350) require coordination with MERIT staff for reservation and use during all times of the year.

Quiet Spaces

  • MERIT is not a quiet study space, but our 4th floor offers individual study carrels and some soft seating, for a quieter experience.

Restrooms

  • There is an accessible single-stall, gender-inclusive restroom, plus gender-specific accessible restrooms within the 3rd floor library space.
  • Accessible gender-specific restrooms are also available on the 1st floor of the Teacher Education Building.
  • Please know: You are welcome to use the restroom that is most comfortable and appropriate for you.

Lactation and Baby Changing Space

  • There is a Wellness Room on the 1st floor (Room 104) that can be used for lactation needs. To access, see staff in the Curriculum & Instruction Office (Room 210).
  • There is a baby changing station in the 2nd floor women’s bathroom across from the PLACE offices (Room 264).

Technology

Public Computers

MERIT Library has 4 public computer workstations (near entrance, across from public service desk) with the following software:

  • On-Screen Keyboard
  • Screen Magnifier
  • Narrator (will require using wired earbuds/ear-phones)
  • Color Contrast

NOTE: Follow the Accessibility icon on desktop to access settings and software

There is an additional public workstation on the 4th floor, along the wall to the left of stairs, adjacent to reference collection shelving.

Services

Accessing Materials and Services

  • If you need help accessing materials or services within the MERIT Library, please ask at the 3rd floor service desk (the staff station across from the library entrance provides an accessible, wheelchair-height space).

Keep in mind!  Two other buildings on-campus have names similar to the Teacher Education Building:

  • Education Building at 1000 Bascom Hall
  • Educational Sciences Building at 1025 W. Johnson Street