Transforming Access: Library‑Led Support for Students with Special Educational Needs

Abstract

Academic libraries are increasingly expected to advance equity and inclusion in higher education. This poster presents a library-led approach to supporting students with Special Educational Needs (SEN), illustrating how libraries can power transformation through inclusive and sustainable service design.

As personal technologies enable students to access information through their own devices, library support must evolve beyond fixed locations and specialist equipment. The University of Hong Kong Libraries is moving from reactive provision towards a flexible ecosystem connecting accessible spaces, assistive and mainstream technologies, resources and services, staff capacity, and institutional partnerships. The poster introduces a five-stage transformation journey and a four-pillar model covering accessible spaces, technologies, resources and services, and people and partnerships. A central online guide connects students with relevant facilities, technologies, resources, and support while enabling greater choice and independent access.

Rather than replacing dedicated facilities, personal technologies complement accessible library spaces and specialist support. The model demonstrates how accessibility can be embedded across physical and digital environments and offers transferable principles for academic libraries seeking to respond to evolving technologies and user needs.