[Eril-l] Off-campus access to licensed databases

[Wiseman, David]

It seems to me that if your building is ADA compliant, and the on-premises-only rule applies to all community patrons, then his argument is weak. Reasonable accommodation does not mean "do everything possible".

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone


-------- Original message --------
From: "Franco, Adrienne"
Date:05/01/2015 5:48 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: Sara Brownmiller ,eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
Subject: Re: [Eril-l] Off-campus access to licensed databases

Apologies for my hasty initial response below.  I had somehow skipped over your first sentence indicating that you do allow community patrons to use your licensed resources when they are in the library.
I see this makes the issue more complex.
One option is to speak with your college lawyer.

Adrienne

From: Franco, Adrienne
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2015 5:21 PM
To: 'Sara Brownmiller'; eril-l at lists.eril-l.org
Subject: RE: Off-campus access to licensed databases

My cautious reply, since I have no legal expertise, is that this person's argument would have merit only if non-disabled individuals who are NOT affiliated with your institution had access to your databases.
I don't see any discrimination because the access restrictions apply to all nonmembers of your institution regardless of whether or not they are disabled.  So it's not unequal or unfair to inform him of access restrictions.

Adrienne Franco
Senior Reference and Instructional Services Librarian
Iona College
New Rochelle, NY 10801


From: Eril-l [mailto:eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org] On Behalf Of Sara Brownmiller
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2015 5:10 PM
To: eril-l at lists.eril-l.org<mailto:eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
Subject: [Eril-l] Off-campus access to licensed databases

The UO Libraries allows community patrons to use our licensed resources when they are in the library.

We've had a request from a community patron for off-campus access to our databases because he is disabled and it is difficult for him to get to the library.  He does not have a current or active affiliation with the UO.   When we explained the restrictions on off-campus access to licensed resources, he is making the argument that this may be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act because this results in unequal/unfair treatment for people who are physically disabled.

Has this question ever come up in your library?   How did you respond?

Thanks, Sara

--------------------------------------------
Sara Brownmiller
Director, Library Systems
University of Oregon Libraries
Eugene, OR 97403-1299
541-346-2368
snb at uoregon.edu<mailto:snb at uoregon.edu>

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