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Accessibility

We are committed to ensuring that students, staff and visitors are not disabled by our services or library facilities.

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Service accessibility

We are committed to removing barriers that may prevent students, staff or visitors from making the most of our services. Below are some examples of adjustments that can be made to improve access. Please email the Library Accessibility team with any feedback regarding accessibility, we welcome suggestions for further reasonable adjustments.

Orientation tours

Our staff can offer one-to-one orientation tours for all libraries. These tours help familiarise students, staff, and visitors with the learning environment and our services. Please contact the Library Accessibility team by email to arrange an appointment.

Orientation tours can be offered at any time of the year. Prospective students who have been offered a place at UCL are welcome to book an appointment before enrolment.

Digital accessibility

A detailed guide to e-learning, web accessibility and assistive software can be found on the Digital Accessibility Services website.

The Digital Accessibility Hub is a dedicated IT workroom that provides improved access for students that are disabled. Students must book an induction via Student Support and Wellbeing before access to the Digital Accessibility Hub will be granted. The induction will introduce you to assistive software specific to your needs. The Digital Accessibility Hub can also offer assistance with printing and accessible scanning. Library Services have a provision that allows registered students to move items that are normally restricted to reference use to the Digital Accessibility Hub for short periods. Students must agree for Student Support and Wellbeing to share a limited amount of information with the Library Membership Team for this adjustment to be made.

Students who are print disabled are subject to a copyright exemption, and UCL has an account with RNIB Bookshare that can be used to provide accessible digital copies of books when suitable formats are not already available. Please contact Student Support and Wellbeing for more information. UCL has also acquired Blackboard Ally, a tool that provides students with alternative file formats for course materials in the Moodle virtual learning environment.

UCL staff seeking guidance for improving digital accessibility should refer to the creating accessible content webpage.

Extended loans

When required, we provide extended loans to UCL students who have registered with Student Support and Wellbeing. This adjustment will extend the one week loan period to two weeks, allowing more time to consult materials that may be important to your studies. This extension is also available to UCL staff on a case by case basis, please email the Library Accessibility team. Please note that other loan periods are not affected.

Reading list and database search assistance

Our Library Accessibility team can provide one-to-one demonstrations on the use of Explore, the single search tool for finding journals, books, full-text articles, archive material, and much more. Please submit an email request for a demonstration to the Library Accessibility team, allowing three working days for the appointment to be arranged.

Many of our sites also offer assistance with literature searches, resource discovery and reference management software.

Access for support workers, study assistants or carers

We will provide access for support workers, study assistants and carers accompanying a registered UCL student, member of staff, or visitor, even the person accompanying them is not registered at UCL themselves. On the day, access can be provided at a membership service point during staffed hours. If regular access is required for the same support worker, study assistant or carer please email the Library Accessibility team to request that they are registered as a member and provided with an ID card.

Induction loops

Induction loops are available at:

  • Bartlett Library
  • Cruciform Hub
  • Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Library
  • Institute of Archaeology Library
  • IOE Library
  • Language and Speech Science Library
  • Main Library Help Point and Information Point
  • Queen Square Institute of Neurology Library
  • Royal Free Hospital Medical Library
  • School of Pharmacy
  • School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies Library
  • Science Library Help Point
  • Special Collections
  • Student Centre
  • UCL East Library

If you have a hearing impairment that means you require the assistance of an induction loop but the site you use is not listed above, please contact the Library Accessibility team to discuss possible long term re-deployment of one of the available systems at the relevant site.

Alternative formats for information leaflets

Our information leaflets are available in large print, braille and MS Word formats. Please send an email request stating the required leaflet and format to the Library Accessibility team.

Magnifiers

Electronic magnifiers are available on request at all of our libraries. The magnifiers are made by Sighta (Clover 5 model). The magnifiers will be available for use within the library by anybody who asks for them, but may be especially useful for customers with a visual impairment or learning difference. They will be issued to your library account, and can only be used within the libraries during staffed hours.

Features of the magnifiers include:

  • Magnification levels of 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x to 15x, 16x to 25x, 26x to 40x.
  • 20 colour modes.
  • Simple to use tactile large buttons.
  • Freeze function (keeps the current image on the screen when the device is moved).
  • Battery life of up to four hours when fully charged.
  • Antiglare lighting system.

Assistive technology is also available to help UCL students and staff with on-screen visual or tracking issues. Please see the Digital Accessibility Hub webpage for more information, or contact Digital Accessibility Services.

Colour overlays and reading rulers

Colour overlays and reading rulers can be used by students who have difficulty reading black text on a white background. The following sites have colour overlays or reading rulers available on request:

  • Bartlett Library (Colour Overlays)
  • Cruciform Hub (Colour Overlays)
  • Institute of Archaeology Library (Colour Overlays)
  • Institute of Orthopaedics Library
  • IOE Library (Colour Overlays)
  • Language & Speech Science Library (Reading Rulers)
  • Main Library (Colour Overlays)
  • Queen Square Library (Colour Overlays)
  • Royal Free Hospital Medical Library (Colour Overlays)
  • School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies Library (Colour Overlays)
  • Science Library (Colour Overlays)

Colour overlays and reading rules can only be used within the libraries during staffed hours.

Assistive technology is also available to help users with on-screen visual or tracking issues. Please see the Digital Accessibility Hubs webpage for more information, or contact Digital Accessibility Services.

Explore Access Points with large format keyboards and screens

An Explore Access Point with a large format keyboard and key guards to assist those with fine motor control difficulties are available at the following libraries:

  • Language and Speech Science Library.
  • SSEES Library (large keyboard only).

Please ask a member of staff at the relevant Library site if you are not sure of the location of the adapted machines.

Postal loans

When required, the UCL Library offers postal loans to UCL students who have registered with Student Support and Wellbeing as a reasonable adjustment. Any books available for borrowing can be posted to a home address. This service is also available to UCL staff on a case-by-case basis, please email the Library Accessibility Team.

Please note that books must be returned to the library in person or by post before the due date.

Item Fetching

Items that are held in an inaccessible area of one of our libraries can be requested in advance via our Click and Collect service. If an item in an inaccessible area is required on the same day, please notify a member of staff at the Help Point in the library.

If you are not able to use the Click and Collect service, please email the Library Accessibility team to arrange advanced fetching for books and other library items.

Building accessibility

UCL endeavours to ensure that our buildings are accessible to all. However, due to the physical layout some library sites are not fully accessible to wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties. In many cases, this is because there is no safe evacuation route in case of emergencies, other than using the stairs. Only specially adapted lifts should be used during a fire. If you are planning to make regular use of a library site please ensure that the building is included as part of your Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP).

The information below covers accessible entrances to the library site, safe evacuation routes, and accessible toilet facilities. UCL has worked with AccessAble to provide a more detailed access guide for staff, students and visitors.

Bartlett Library

The Bartlett Library is on the Ground Floor of Central House, and is accessible to wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties. There are manual doors between the entrance and the library.

Safe evacuation routes are available without the use of stairs. There is a ramp at the entrance to the building and a wide access gate inside. 

An accessible toilet is available on the Ground Floor of Central House, where the Bartlett Library is based.

Please visit the AccessAble guide for Central House for further details.

Cruciform Hub

There is a ramp entrance to the Cruciform Building. The Cruciform Hub is on the Lower Ground Floor, accessible via stairs or a standard lift. 

There are currently no safe evacuation routes for those who are unable to use stairs. The Cruciform Hub is based below ground level, and only accessible via stairs or a standard lift. Wheelchair users and those with mobility difficulties can email the Library Accessibility team to have items delivered to an accessible location in another library.

Adjustable desks, with PCs, are available in Group Study Room B.1.12.

Accessible toilet facilities are available in the Cruciform Building.

Please see the AccessAble guide for the Cruciform Building for further details.

Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Library

The Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Library is based on the Second Floor of the Institute of Child Health. A lift is available to the Second Floor. Access to the Library is via 5 clearly marked steps with a handrail. There are two height adjustable desks.

There are no safe evacuation routes for those that are not able to use the stairs. If you are unable to use the stairs in an emergency, please place a fetching request for required material by emailing the Library Accessibility team.

Accessible toilet facilities are available on every floor of the building. 

Please see the AccessAble guide for the Institute of Child Health for more information.

Institute of Archaeology Library

The Institute of Archaeology Library is on the Fifth Floor. There is a ramp at the entrance to the Institute of Archaeology building.

The Institute of Archaeology Library does not have two safe evacuation routes for those that are unable to use the stairs. If you are unable to use the stairs, please place a fetching request for required material by emailing the Library Accessibility team, who will make it available at an accessible location in another library.

Two height adjustable desks are located on the 5th floor inside the Archaeology Library. To locate them, please proceed straight ahead through the "Stacks area" until you reach the end of the library. Please note that the seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can`t be reserved in advance.

Accessible toilet facilities are available on the Ground Floor of the Institute of Archaeology Building.

Please see the AccessAble guide for the Institute of Archaeology for further details.

Institute of Orthopaedics Library

The Orthopaedics Library is on the First Floor of the Sir Herbert Seddon Teaching Centre, however the library can be accessed via a permanent ramp. 

Safe evacuation routes are available without the use of stairs. The ramp provides a safe evacuation route in case of emergency. There are no steps outside the library, in the corridor leading to the library, or within the library itself.

An accessible toilet is available on the Ground Floor of the Sir Herbert Seddon Teaching Centre.

Please visit the AccessAble guide for the Institute of Orthopaedics Teaching Centre for further details.

IOE Library

There are currently no safe evacuation routes on Level 3 and Level 5 for those who cannot use stairs. Only Level 4 (ground floor) of the IOE Library is accessible for wheelchair users or people who cannot use stairs. If you would like a book that is in an area that is inaccessible to you, please place a Click and Collect request to have the items collected for you in advance, or talk to staff at the Help Point when you are at the IOE Library and we will get the book for you.

There are currently no accessible toilets in the IOE Library. The nearest accessible toilets are outside the library on the other side of the foyer (Level 4 / ground floor) but these are only accessible Monday-Friday until 5pm. At other times the nearest accessible toilets are on Level 3 of the IOE building (via the Core B lifts).

Joint Library of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital & UCL Institute of Ophthalmology

The Joint Library of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital & UCL Institute of Ophthalmology is situated on the Lower Ground Floor of the Institute of Ophthalmology. There is a ramp entrance to the building. A lift is available to the Lower Ground Floor. There are small steps between the street and the library.

There are no step-free evacuation routes for those that are not able to use the stairs. If you are unable to use the stairs in an emergency please place a fetching request for required material by emailing the Library Accessibility team.

Accessible toilet facilities are available on the Ground Floor.

Please see the AccessAble guide for the Institute of Ophthalmology for further details.

Language and Speech Science Library

The Language and Speech Science Library is on the Second Floor of Chandler House, which can be accessed by wheelchair users and those with mobility difficulties using the entrance ramp. There is a lift available to the Second Floor.

Safe evacuation routes are available without the use of stairs. In case of emergency those who cannot use stairs should proceed to the refuge point, where there are evacuation mats and a telephone to speak to the emergency services or staff managing the evacuation. An adapted standard lift is available on the other side of Chandler House.

An accessible toilet is available on each floor of Chandler House. An accessible shower is available on the Second Floor.

Please see the AccessAble guide for Chandler House for further details.

Main Library

Most areas of the Main Library are accessible to wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties. An accessible wide gate is available at the entrance of the Main Library, next to the Information Point. Wheelchair accessible self-service machines are available.

The Mezzanine levels are only accessible via stairs. The Mezzanine levels include the following subjects: law, sections of English, sections of Art, sections of Economics, and sections of German. If you are unable to access these collections please place a Click and Collect request to have the items collected for you in advance, or contact staff at the Help Point if you require an item to be collected from an inaccessible area on the day.

Safe evacuation routes are available on the Ground Floor, Floor 1 and Floor 2 without the use of stairs. In case of emergency the fire doors in the North End of the Main Library should be used. These doors can be accessed through the English or Hebrew and Jewish Studies section.

If you are not able to reach the North End fire doors there are refuge points with access to an evacuation chair in the South End of the Main Library, accessed through the Art/Economics or History sections. There are emergency telephones in the refuge point.

The Donaldson Room (law) and Mezzanine Levels in the Main Library are not accessible to wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties. The lift to the Donaldson Room will not operate in an emergency.

Accessible toilet facilities are available on the second floor of the Main Library. 

Please note that due to the design of the building a number of collections in the Main Library are accessible only by stairs, or are stored in shelving units where there may not be enough space to access the material when using a wheelchair. Contact staff at the Help Point if you require an item to be collected from an inaccessible area on the day. Alternatively, you can place a request in advance for material using the Click and Collect service.

Please see the AccessAble guide for the Main Library for further details.

Queen Square Institute of Neurology Library

Queen Square Library is on the First Floor of the Institute of Neurology at 23 Queen Square. The accessible entrance comes under the responsibility of the private health care clinics on the Ground Floor. To use the entrance, and the platform lift just inside the building, it will be necessary to contact the library so that they can liaise with the private clinics to provide entry. This is the only step free access into the building.

There are no safe evacuation routes for those that are unable to use the stairs. Those who cannot evacuate using the stairs in an emergency can place a fetching request for required material by emailing the Library Accessibility team.

Accessible toilet facilities are not available in the library.

Please see the AccessAble guide for the Institute of Neurology for more information.

Royal Free Hospital Medical Library

The Pond Street entrance of the Hospital is fully accessible and the entrance to the library is on the Ground Floor. Most of the library resources and facilities are accessible on the Ground Floor, including books, multi-functional devices and computers. The Basement Level, where some journals are stored, can only be accessed via stairs. Please speak to staff at the Help Point If you require a fetching service for any journals stored on the Basement Level.

Safe evacuation routes are only available on the Ground Floor of the Library without the use of stairs. The Ground Floor can be exited horizontally. The Mezzanine Level can only be accessed via stairs, or by asking staff at the Help Point to facilitate access via a standard lift that is external to the library itself. 

Accessible toilet facilities are available on the Ground Floor of the Hospital, and throughout the hospital building. 

More information can be found on the Hospital webpage.

School of Pharmacy Library

The School of Pharmacy Library is on the First Floor of the School of Pharmacy Building. There is a ramp entrance to the building, and a lift can be used to reach the library. There is step-free access to the library itself. The library has a height-adjustable desk.

There are no safe evacuation routes for those that are unable to use the stairs. The building has fire safe lobbies to Stair A & B - which will provide time for arrangements to be made for others to assist. The person you are visiting will take you to the refuge, which is within the evacuation stairway at each level of the building and ensure that FEM s or others are informed that a refuges is being used. If you are able, make you own way down the stairs in your own time, once all other occupants have passed you. Evacuation chairs are available on Stair A & B landings.

Accessible toilet facilities are available on the First Floor, just outside the library, and also on the Ground Floor, Second Floor, Third Floor, Fourth Floor, Fifth Floor and Basement of the Building.

Please see the AccessAble guide for the School of Pharmacy for further details.

School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies Library

SSEES Library can be accessed via a ramp at the entrance to the building and a wide access gate to the library itself. There are two height-adjustable desks with adjustable chairs located in the Current Periodicals section on the Lower Ground Floor.

There are currently no safe evacuation routes below or above the Ground Floor for those who cannot use stairs. The SSEES Library occupies floors above and below ground level, and these can only be evacuated via stairs in case of an emergency. If you are unable to access the collections on the upper or lower floors, please place a Click and Collect request to have the items collected for you in advance, or contact staff at the Help Desk if you require an item to be collected from an inaccessible area on the day.

Accessible toilet facilities are available on the First Floor and Lower Ground Floor of the Library. 

Please see the AccessAble guide for SSEES for further details.

Science Library

The Science Library can be accessed by using a ramp at the main entrance to the DMS Watson Building, and there are two wide gates at the entrance to the Library. The Membership Point is wheelchair accessible. Inside the library, Explore Access Points and self-service facilities are also wheelchair accessible.

There are currently no safe evacuation routes above the Ground Floor for those who cannot use stairs. The Science Library is accessible to wheelchair users and those with mobility difficulties on the Ground Floor.

Most of the collections in the Science Library are stored on the upper floors. If these areas are inaccessible to you, please place a Click and Collect request to have the items collected for you in advance, or contact staff at the Help Point if you require an item to be collected from an inaccessible area on the day.

The Science Library has a Changing Places toilet facility on the Ground Floor. The facility is accessible via Radar key.

Special Collections

Special Collections has 2 onsite reading rooms.

South Junction Reading Room

The South Junction Reading Room is accessible to wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties. Wheelchair access is from Malet Place or Gordon Street through the double doors next to the Print Room café. The reading room is straight ahead and accessible via a ramp. The space is all on one level and the doors can be opened to provide wide access.

Safe evacuation routes are available without the use of stairs. 

Accessible toilet facilities are available on the ground floor of the South Junction of the Wilkins Building.

IOE Reading Room

The IOE Reading Room is on Level 4 of the IOE Library at 20 Bedford Way. The library is accessible to wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties. Wide access gates are available at the entrance.

Safe evacuation routes are available without the use of stairs.

Accessible toilet facilities are available on Level Three of the library.

There is also a UCL Special Collections reading room at the National Archives at Kew. The National Archives is fully accessible for disabled visitors. Details are available on the National Archives website.

Student Centre

The Student Centre is accessible to wheelchair users or those with mobility difficulties. There is a ramp at the main entrance to the building, and an accessible wide access gate allows entrance to the UCL student and staff areas of the Student Centre. Lifts are available to all floors. Height adjustable desks are available throughout the building.

Safe evacuation routes are available on all floors without the use of stairs. An adapted standard lift can be used during an emergency evacuation. Refuge points are available on the upper and lower floors, equipped with call points that can be used to notify staff of your location. A lift can then be directed to the relevant floor.

Accessible toilets are available on every floor of the building. There is an accessible shower in Basement Two.

Please visit the AccessAble guide for the Student Centre for further details.

 

UCL East Library - Marshgate

The UCL East Library is located on the Second Floor in Marshgate, near Room 212. Safe evacuation routes without the use of stairs are available on every floor in Marshgate.

The library entrance is accessible via stairs, escalators, or a lift. There are manual doors at the entrance of the UCL East library. 

There are 7 Height adjustable desks available, as well as accessible laptop and storage lockers in the library facilities.

Accessible toilet facilities operate on every floor in Marshgate. 

An accessible lift operates between the 2nd and 3rd floor inside the UCL East Library facilities.

Contact us

For any queries related to the accessibility of library services and study spaces at UCL, please contact the Library Accessibility team at the following email address:

lib-accessibility@ucl.ac.uk

Student Support and Wellbeing are located on Level 1 of the Student Centre. Their contact details are available on the Student Support and Wellbeing webpage.