Public library accessible for disabled people

Entrance:

The library is located in the city-center, subsequently it is quite easy to approach from all parts of Edinburgh. Unfortunately, there is some road work taking place for the time being on George IV Bridge, right in front of the main entrance of the building. This results in limited parking places (the nearest are on Victoria Street, opposite the library and only for badge-holders), which could represent a problem for mobility impaired people. What’s more, there is a very convenient bus stop right in front of the entrance, which is, sadly, currently out of order. The nearest stop is on Chambers Street and more than 200 meters away from the entrance of the library. Furthermore, there are many spots near the main entrance, where one could leave their bicycle.

There is a pavement access to the building – there are no steps and the doors are automatic, which is pretty helpful. There are steps up to the ground floor, and also a very convenient wheelchair lift. Moreover, there are plans on making a second wheelchair lift from the pavement level to the ground floor.

Movement:

Mobility impaired people can only reach the ground floor. There is a special place for readers with wheelchairs, where staff brings books to them. However, this place could get quite crowded and noisy, for it is into the Readers Registration room. The staff usually arranges more quiet rooms in such cases. The way to the upper floor, where the General, North and South reading rooms are, is through a staircase and there is no wheelchair lift, due to limited resources. Besides, there are no tactile marks on the steps to help visually impaired people.  There is, however, an ordinary lift that is in principle wide enough for a wheelchair but not designed for this purpose and respectively never used for such aims. Furthermore, the doors to the reading rooms on the first floor are huge and heavy which makes entering with wheelchairs really tough and impossible without assistance. The General reading room is settled on two levels. The first one is located on the first floor, but the second one is accessible only through stairs. This could be quite an obstacle for some readers but, fortunately, there is truly helpful and well-trained staff ready to assist. Moreover, evacuation routes are well-planned and staff is trained to check all rooms and facilities in case of fire and help visitors exit the building as quickly as possible.

Otherwise, the reading rooms are quite accessible, the halls and spaces are wide enough and the atmosphere is very nice and suitable.

Facilities/Management:

Unisex accessible toilet is available on the ground floor of the building. It is well equipped and designed in a way to meet all the needs of disabled people. There is also a toilet for disabled people on the upper floor and it can be used once access for wheelchair users is provided to the first floor. What’s even more, the ground floor has lockers that can be easily accessed by everyone and a Refreshment room with automatic doors and vending machines. In the future the library will have a new fully accessible Visitors centre with computers for public use and a new café. The Readers Registration room, where the wheelchair users are accommodated, is equipped with height-adjustable desks for the readers’ comfort. Such desks can be found throughout almost all reading rooms and the Enquiry desk. For the readers, which are not able to stand or walk for very long, there is a spare wheelchair available, located just next to the entrance of the library. On the first floor in the Media Room readers are provided with access to computers and video magnifiers, such as My Reader 2 and Aladdin Rainbow Pro CCTV, for the needs of visually impaired people. The latter are also allowed accessing the library with their assistance dogs. Furthermore, visitors with hearing impairments can benefit of the availability of type talk and induction loops around the building. Moreover, in case of a fire the alarm does not only sound but flashes in order to give signal to deaf people. For the general users the reading rooms provide all the equipment needed by the reader including cold light source, conservation book-cradles, a microform reader, internet access for their laptops. Future plans have taken in consideration providing access to the reading rooms on the first floor for mobility impaired readers, reviewing the signage inside and outside the library, and the development of a new evacuation plan.

Architectural design:

The George IV Square building was designed by the Scottish architect Reginald Fairlie. It was completed in December 1955 and opened to the public in July 1956. At the time of their completion in 1936 the plans of the building were described as “scholarly and dignified design” by the Royal Fine Art Commission. From a contemporary point of view the design of the building is undoubtedly beautiful but does not correspond with the aim of society to provide universal access to everyone. Heavy doors and steep staircases represent the main difficulty for mobility impaired people. However, the staff in the library does everything in order to improve the current condition. A lot has been done already in order to make the building a place that can be used by everyone. The needed signage and equipment for visually impaired people and those with hearing problems has been provided. Moreover, many of the facilities are accessible to all readers. Wheelchair users are able to access the ground floor, where they are provided with the full assistance of the staff. Even though the upper floor is still inaccessible to them, it is already equipped with a proper toilet and height adjustable desks. Furthermore, the Disability Equality Duty Action Plan has as one of its major points the development of access the first floor of wheelchair users. Although the initial design of the building was not serving the needs of disabled people, current improvements of the interior and exterior of the library have made it highly accessible to all. There is a lot more to be done but the most vital thing is that everybody’s needs are already taken in consideration at George IV Square.

Conclusion:

To sum up, we would say that the building is very well-equipped and pretty accessible. There are, naturally, some problems with, for example, wheelchair lifts or parking slots, but the important fact is that these problems are identified and plans for improvements are already taken. Also with the help of a friendly and properly trained staff for the needs of disabled people many of the set-backs are solved. We gathered the information with the kind assistance of Mrs. Veronica Denholm – Access Manager of National Library of Scotland, and with the help of the official web-site (also truly well-organized and accessible) – www.nls.uk

Other references: “Reginald Fairlie 1883-1952 A Scottish Architect”, Patrick Nuttgens, printed in Great Britain for Oliver and Boyd Ltd., Edinburgh, by R & R. Clark Ltd., Edinburgh.