Accessibility at Causewayside

The main entrance is on street level. There are two entrances – a revolving door and an accessible door.

The accessible door is to the right of the revolving door and is 110cm wide. Please use the intercom and a member of staff will welcome you.

Foyer

The Library's Maps Reading Room is on the ground floor.

There is a ramp that leads to the entry gate. The ramp is 110cm wide. The entry gate is 97cm wide.

There is a small staircase on the right of the ramp with four steps to reach the welcome desk and entry gate.

A member of staff will meet you at the entry gate and lead you to the locker area. The ramp continues to our locker area.

The entrance to the Maps Reading Room is behind a wall. There is a short, 117cm wide corridor leading to the door. The door is 106cm wide.

A member of staff can hold the door open for you.

There is a unisex accessible toilet on the ground floor, outside the Maps Reading Room.

• The toilet door is 85cm wide.

• There is a 145cm distance from the door to the toilet.

• The toilet seat is 45cm high.

• There is a horizontal grab rail located to the right of the toilet.

• There is a sink, and the sink is 73cm from the floor.

• There is an emergency alarm to the right of the toilet.

• There are baby changing facilities within this toilet.

There are portable audio induction loops available from the Service Desk in the Maps Reading Room.

In the event of a fire alarm, our fire alarms have flashing lights as well as sound to alert visitors with hearing impairments.

We can adjust the lighting in our Maps Reading Room.

Magnifying glasses are available from the Service Desk in the Maps Reading Room.

There are coloured overlays, a large print keyboard, and computers have Microsoft Accessibility Software enabled.

Please contact a member of staff if you have visual impairment and would like help to leave the building during an emergency evacuation.

The Library at Causewayside is fully accessible for wheelchair users and can cater for other access requirements.

We also have a foldable wheelchair.

The Maps Reading Room has a range of assistive technology.

• Several adjustable tables: one large adjustable table and four adjustable desks. The table can accommodate six readers at a time.

• Adjustable chairs, including one with arms, and two footrests.

• Magnifying glasses are available from the Service Desk (2x and 4x).

• Book rests and aids to keep books open.

• A portable hearing loop.

• Adjustable lighting, including a task light that can be positioned as required.

• Power sockets on the reading desks.

• Coloured overlays

• Tracker ball mouse and ergonomic mouse

• Large print keyboard

• Computers have the built in Microsoft Accessibility Software enabled, including Narrator.

Please check about the suitability of using your own specialist equipment with us before coming to the Maps Reading Room.

You can bring assistance and emotional support animals into the building. We can provide water bowls.

Read our Assistance and emotional support animal policy (Word document) (351 KB; 8 pages) for more information about this.

Blue Badge holders can park on Salisbury Place, Upper Gray Street or Causewayside.

Fire alarm

In the event of a fire, the fire alarm will activate. Our fire alarms have flashing lights as well as sound to alert visitors with hearing impairments.

Emergency evacuation

In the case of an evacuation, all customers inside the Library will be led to safety by Library staff or by a member of the fire brigade.

The main evacuation route from our Maps Reading Room on the ground floor is the main entrance onto Salisbury Place.

If you have a medical condition or a disability which would make it difficult to evacuate the building, when you first visit us, please ask to complete a short Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) questionnaire.

Please contact a member of staff if you have visual impairment and would like help to leave the building during an emergency evacuation.