Disability Assistance
Hekman Library staff is committed to assisting library users who have disabilities. Library employees can be found on all floors, except the fifth floor. If you want to make arrangements for assistance before arriving, please contact us.
What assistance can I expect from the library staff?
- Retrieve books from shelves
- A reasonable amount of photocopying
- Research assistance
What accommodating equipment is available to me?
- Wheelchair-accessible computer workstation
- Headphones (at 3rd floor checkout desk)
You can also find more information disability accommodations at Calvin University through Disability Services.
Navigating the Hekman Library Building
How do I get into the library?
There are three entrances to the library, two on the 2nd floor and one on the 3rd floor. The 2nd floor entrances, one off the Commons Lawn leading to Peet's Coffee and one off the Fine Arts Center parking lot, are at ground-level and is the easiest to access. On the map below, Es mark the main entries and Stars indicate handicapped-accessible parking.
Where can I go in the library?
Except for the stairwells and the restrooms on the 3rd and 4th floors, all areas of the Hekman Library are wheelchair accessible (see also Where are the restrooms?). An elevator near the center of the building provides access to all floors.
The main library elevator isn't usable until October 2025.
2 alternatives:
- The Hiemenga Hall Elevator — near chapel lot/Hiemenga Hall West entrance, can get there from Library's 3rd Floor (see 3rd Floor Library Map)
- The Chair Lift — South end of Library's 3rd floor, at Meeter Center entrance; near small library parking lot, adjacent to chapel (see 3rd Floor Library Map)
Assistance will be needed for retrieving books from the top shelves. You can ask directly or place holds on our website to get these items.
Please let us know if there is a physical barrier.