The provision of service to students with Special Educational
Needs (SEN) at university libraries in the UK differs based on the
types of positions that are being used to staff these programs.
This study finds that although nondedicated staff tended to
provide services that required fewer specialized skills, they
seemed to place a higher priority on meeting the immediate
needs of students with SEN, while dedicated staff members
tended to focus on the quality of the support being provided.
Second, this study finds that it is difficult for university libraries
to provide the tailored training or alternative formats required
by students with SEN without support personnel on staff who
have specialized expertise. It remains to be determined which
type of special needs staffing and support system is most
effective, since no significant differences were observed in the
responses of those surveyed.