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New College Library and Sanctuary

The University of Edinburgh, Central Area, New College School of Divinity, 1 Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LX

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free via very slight slopes.
  • The step-free approach to the building is from Mound Place.
  • The New College Library and Sanctuary has 2 entrances.
    Both are step-free, one has a steep slope and the other has a slight slope. Both must be used to access the building as you need to enter the courtyard to access the building entrance.
  • The Courtyard Entrance is signed as School of Divinity.
    The New College Library entrance is signed as New College Library.
  • The New College Library entrance gives step-free slight sloped access to the ground floor with automatic doors.
  • The Courtyard entrance provides step-free steep sloped access to the Courtyard and New College Library entrance.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout the ground floor.
  • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of the New College Library on the first floor.
  • David Welsh and Funk Reading Rooms and Stack 1 & 2 are only accessible by stairs.
  • There are 6 clearly marked steps to access the Church of Scotland and current journals area in the library.
  • Floor surfaces along some circulation routes are uneven paving, the rest are hard and smooth carpet.
  • There are no resting areas in circulation areas.
  • Wall mounted signage is provided on stairwell landings.
  • There are manual doors to access the stairwell for David Welsh and Funk Reading Rooms and Stack 1 & 2.

Emergency Egress for Building

  • General Building Information View
    • Please note the fire evacuation strategy from the upper floors of this building relies on the ability to self-transfer into an evacuation chair.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located to the right after entering via the New College Library entrance.
    • All toilets with adaptations have a left hand transfer space.
    • The shared toilet facilities are located off from the main stairs.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking

  • On-street Parking View
    • On-street standard parking is available .
    • The on-street designated Blue Badge parking bays are located on Mound Place.

Entrance (New College Library)

  • This entrance is located within the New College School of Divinity Courtyard.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via slope at the entrance.
  • The slope has a slight gradient.
  • There is an intercom at a height of 100cm.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 90cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 138cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 90cm.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Lift (Platform Lift)

  • The lift surveyed is located at the far end of the corridor after entering via the New College Library entrance.
  • This lift is a platform lift.
  • The distance from the New College Library entrance is 12m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access, uneven surfaces and automatic doors.
  • The ground and first floor are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a medium visual contrast.
  • The lift does not have a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a low visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 89cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 110cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a low visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a visual floor indicator.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • The lift opens directly into the library on the first floor.
    The width of the barriers is 86cm.

Stairs (Main)

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the right after entering via the New College Library entrance.
  • The ground and first floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps have low visual contrast markings and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are not easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs (David Welsh Reading Room, Funk Reading Room, Stack 1 and 2,)

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the rear of the library.
  • The ground, first and second floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 16 steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have a handrail on the left going down.
  • The handrail is not easy to grip.
  • The handrail covers the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail extends horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Entrance (Library - from Main Stairs)

  • This entrance is located at the top of the stairs on the first floor.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 123cm.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 110cm.
  • The doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 100cm.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Library

  • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
  • The following areas have stepped access: the Church of Scotland and current journals area.
    The David Welsh Reading Room, Funk Reading Room and Stack 1 and 2.
  • Access throughout the library may include manual doors and narrow walkways.
  • There is some room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
  • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
  • Seating available in the library includes: chairs without armrests.
  • Furniture available in the library includes: tables, desks and height adjustable desks.
  • Some tables are fixed.
  • Some surface heights are suitable for wheelchair users.
  • The clear underside space of some surfaces is suitable for wheelchair users.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade and unshaded light sources.
  • There is a clearly signed fixed hearing assistance system.
  • The hearing assistance system was tested, however it was not working at the time of the survey.
  • The height of the touchscreen display ranges from 120cm to 160cm from the floor.
  • This library is able to provide material in the following formats: ebook and ejournal.

Counter (Help Desk)

  • The counter is located to the right of the steps accessing the Church of Scotland and current journals area.
  • The distance from the platform lift on the first floor is 10m.
  • There is step-free level access to the counter.
  • The height of the counter is 93cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the counter.
  • The height of the lowered section is 76cm.
  • The counter has patterned/distracting backgrounds.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the right after entering the building via the main entrance.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 3m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access and uneven surfaces.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 188cm (width) x 210cm (depth) and there is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 116cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush on the non-transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 112cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 72cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rails are on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 93cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 94cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is an unobstructed shelf.
    • The shelf does not meet the AccessAble criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor have a medium visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade and unshaded light sources.