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Maughan Library - Special Collections

Strand Campus, King's College London, Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1LR

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • Service View
    • This guide describes access relevant to the Library Special Collections. For information related to the Maughan Library in general, including toilets, Reception, IT TechBar, Library services, Assistive Technology Room, main staircases, prayer room, and café, refer to the Maughan Library - Main access guide.
    • Maughan Library - Main link (new tab) - click here.
  • Building View
    • There is step-free access to Special Collections via the main entrance to the building and using the internal lifts.
  • Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities View
    • Shared standard toilet facilities are located in Stair A of the Chancery Lane Wing.
      There is not step-free access to these toilets.

Access Point - Chancery Lane

  • This access point is located on Chancery Lane, opposite the Law Society.
  • The approach to the access point has a camber towards a dropped kerb.
  • The access point is clearly signed.
  • Assistance is available at the access point, use the intercom at the Special Collections entrance on the right after the access point.
  • There is step-free level access.
  • There is a single manual gate.
  • The gate is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 98cm.
  • The gate has a low visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Outside Access (Chancery Lane Wing - Special Collections)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located on the right after the Chancery Lane access point.
    • This entrance gives access to Special Collections.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'Foyle Special Collections Library'.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is an intercom.
    • The height of the intercom is 113cm (3ft 8in).
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the key card reader is 140cm.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 113cm.
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located in front of, and after the doorway.
    • There is/are 14 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 15cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides of the step(s).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are not easy to grip.
    • Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • The lighting levels at the step(s) are moderate to good.
    • The handrails in front of the doorway have handrails between 90cm and 100cm from the pitch line of the stairs.
      The handrails after the doorway do not have handrails between 90cm and 100cm from the pitch line of the stairs.
      The second flight of steps after the doorway have a handrail on the right-hand side going up only.

Lift (Chancery Lane Wing - Special Collections)

  • The lift is located within the Special Collections area of the Chancery Lane Wing.
  • The lift is clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 100m (109yd 1ft) from the main lifts.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are -1, G, 1 and 2.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 600kg.
  • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are provided on lift lobby landings.
  • There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
  • Lift doors do contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
  • The external controls for the lift are within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is high.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is high.
  • The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 105cm x 144cm (3ft 5in x 4ft 9in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • There is not a list of floor services available within the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The internal controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • There is not a hearing loop system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting levels in the lift are good.
  • Floors -1 and G are for staff only.
  • Comments View
    • Step-free access to this lift is via level 1 of the Chancery Lane Wing.
    • Step-free access to the Chancery Lane Wing is via the main entrance to the building and using the main lifts.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located off the main courtyard from the Chancery Lane access point.
    • This entrance gives access to the ground floor.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'The Maughan Library 2002'.
    • There is ramped/sloped or stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • There is a dark mat or floor marking at this entrance that might be perceived as a hole.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 122cm.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 88cm.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located either side of the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the ramp.
    • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides of the ramp.
    • The width of the ramp/slope is 90cm (2ft 11in).
    • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located in front of the entrance.
    • There is/are 6 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 15cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The handrail(s) is/are in the centre of the step(s).
    • Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • The lighting levels at the step(s) are good.
  • Comments View
    • There is a third set of doors of a set of permanently held open double doors with a width of 145cm.
    • These are followed by barriers with a width of 55cm and 5 steps with a height of 15cm and a depth of 40cm and handrails on either side.

Lift (Main Entrance - Platform)

  • The lift is located on the right after the first set of doors at the main entrance.
  • Signs indicating the location of the lift are not available from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 2m (2yd 7in) from the first set of doors at the main entrance.
  • The lift is a platform lift.
  • The platform lift accesses a small level change.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 300kg.
  • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on lift lobby landings.
  • There is not a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
  • Lift doors do contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
  • The external controls for the lift are within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is high.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is high.
  • The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 110cm x 140cm (3ft 7in x 4ft 7in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • There is not a list of floor services available within the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The internal controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • There is not a hearing loop system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting levels in the lift are good.
  • There are security barriers on leaving the lift on the upper level with a width of 95cm.

Lift (Main Lifts)

  • The lift is located to the left and to the right after the main entrance.
  • The lift is clearly visible from the entrance.
  • The lift is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the main entrance to the Maughan Library building.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are -1, G, GM, 1, 1M, 2 and 2M.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 800kg.
  • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are provided on lift lobby landings.
  • There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
  • Lift doors do not contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
  • The external controls for the lift are within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is high.
  • The visual contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is high.
  • The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 120cm x 160cm (3ft 11in x 5ft 3in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • There is not a list of floor services available within the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The internal controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • There is not a hearing loop system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting levels in the lift are good.
  • Lift 1 serves main building floors -1, G, 1, 1M, 2 and 2M; and Clock Tower levels T1 to T4.
    Lift 2 serves main building floors G, 1, 1M and 2.
    Lift 3 serves main building floors -1, G, 1, 1M, 2 and 2M.
    Lift 4 serves main building floors G, 1, 1M, 2 and 2M.
  • Comments View
    • Lift 1 mezzanine collection rooms served are 1M.66 to 1M.71, and 2M.66 to 2M.71.
    • Lift 2 mezzanine collection rooms served are 1M.66 to 1M.71.
    • Lift 3 and lift 4 mezzanine collection rooms served are 1M.12 to 1M.14, and 2M.12 to 2M.20.