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Old College Law Library

The University of Edinburgh, Central Campus, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9JX

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The most accessible route into the library is via Old College North.
    Enter Old College North through the Chambers Street entrance then the link entrance to the Old College Law Library is located immediately to your right after going through the second set of doors.
  • The Old College North Chambers Street entrance has 2 steep slopes on access.
  • Old College Law Library has 2 entrances.
    The accessible entrance is level after overcoming the ramps from the Chambers Street entrance into Old North College. The door is manual and requires an authorised key card to access the building.
    The main entrance is located off Old College Quad and has manual doors and 14 steps to access the building.
  • The accessible entrance is signed as Library Access only for Disabled Users.
    The main entrance is signed as The University of Edinburgh - Old College The Edinburgh Law School Library / Quad Teaching Room.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access throughout the majority of the library.
  • There is a steep ramp to access Quad Teaching Room G.158.
    There is a slight ramp with handrails on either side that overcomes 2 13cm steps to access the raised ground floor reading room.
  • There are 4 clearly marked 18cm steps to access computer area LG.01 on the lower ground floor.
    There are three 13cm steps with a handrail on the left to access the gender neutral toilet on the mezzanine floor.
  • The majority of the library is carpeted, there is a section of the lower ground floor near the accessible entrance which is hard and smooth with a shiny finish.
    There is a stone area near the main stepped entrance from Old Quad next to G.158.
  • There are seating areas located throughout the library.
  • There is a wayfinding signage located throughout much of the library.

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 are 2 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on the lower ground and ground floors.
    • All toilets with adaptations have a right hand transfer space.
    • The gender inclusive step-free toilet facilities are located on the ground and mezzanine floors.

Entrance (Accessible Entrance)

  • This entrance is located on the lower ground floor of Old College North.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 100cm.
  • There is a single manual door at this entrance.
  • The door opens away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 82cm.
  • The door has a low visual contrast.
  • This entrance is not in general use.
    An authorised key card is needed to use the entrance.
    Anyone without a key card wishing to use the building should head to the main reception on the ground floor of Old College North.
    There is a slight ramp and a lift between the accessible entrance and the reception in Old College North.

Reception

  • The reception is located to your right on exiting the lift on the ground floor.
  • The distance from lift is 10m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 95cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 76cm.
  • 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.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the seating area (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
  • Seating available in this area includes: chairs without armrests.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.

Library

  • There is step-free level access throughout the library, this may include the use of a lift.
  • There is 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 with armrests and chairs without armrests.
  • Furniture available in the library includes: tables, coffee tables and 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 even at the time of the survey.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • The height of the touchscreen display ranges from 119cm to 145cm from the floor.
  • This library is able to provide material in the following formats: ebook and ejournal.
  • Auxiliary aids available in this library include: coloured overlays.
  • Accessible software available for the computers includes: MindGenius, Dragon Naturally Speaking and ABBYY FineReader.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located along the corridor in front of you on entrance from the accessible entrance.
  • The distance from the Law Library accessible entrance is 10m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The lower ground, ground and mezzanine floors are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have 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 90cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 140cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit, a mirror to aid reversing, a hearing assistance alarm system, a visual floor indicator, an audible announcer and a list of floor services/facilities.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located to your right on entrance via the accessible entrance.
  • The lower ground, ground and mezzanine floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 17 steps between floors.
  • The steps are unmarked and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are 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 step is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 18cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Lower Ground Floor - Shared - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located in front of you on entrance.
    • The distance from the Law Library accessible entrance is 10m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 90cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a medium visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 180cm (width) x 220cm (depth) and there is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet.
    • The lateral transfer space is 100cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush on the 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 low 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 95cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 73cm 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 high visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 108cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 77cm 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 multiple coat hooks.
    • The coat hooks are 105cm and 140cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.