Central Library: services for disabled people

Access

Map for Central Library

Accessible to a wheelchair user travelling independently.

The level ramp at the west end of the building (furthest away from College Green) is wheelchair and pushchair friendly. You enter the building near the Children's Library on the ground floor.

There are hearing loops at all library desks.

TexBox: textphone 0117 357 4444 and choose 'Central Library'. TexBox transfers your call to library staff who speak to you (via computer) in real time.

Tactile signposting in key areas.

Every part of library accessible to readers using disability vehicles.

Wheelchair accessible talking lift between floors.

Pay and display parking is available at both the front and side of the building. In both cases disabled badge holders may park free.

Electronic resources

Descriptions of most of the items in this section can be found in the glossary section of the general Services for disabled people page.

In the following list, all items, can be found in the Disability Resource Centre in the Learning Centre on the first floor, unless otherwise stated:

• Braille software and embosser. Any Braille pages produced are free.
• Braille keyboard.
• Computer desks: wheelchair accessible.
• Desktop magnifier monitor that magnifies print or objects onto a PC screen: in the Family History section of the Reference Library on the first floor.
• Headphones: free to use with the computers in the Disability Resource Centre.
• Jaws screen reader.
• Large keys keyboards: two available.
• Large screen computer monitors.
• Radio/cassette/CD player: available on request in the Lending Library on the ground floor.
• SuperNova screen reader: all computers in Central.
• Trackerball mouse: available on request.

Newspapers and magazines

We take a number of magazines for disabled people. These are displayed on the shelving within the Disability Resource Centre on the first floor.

In addition to the titles taken below, we sometimes receive free copies of newsletters etc. As we cannot guarantee when these will arrive, or even if we will get a particular copy they are not listed below.

• Arthritis: quarterly. Copies dating back to 1985.
• Disability now: monthly. Copies kept for one year.
• Disabled and supportive carer: irregular. Copies kept for one year.
• One in seven: six per year. Copies kept for one year.
• Vision South West: RNIB newsletter: irregular.

Central Library serials list (pdf, 0.7 MB) (pdf 694Kb, 322 pages). A complete list of our holdings of historical and current titles. You can browse it page by page, or search (using the binoculars icon).

Other resources

Descriptions of most of the items in this section can be found in the glossary section of the general Services for disabled people page.

In the following list, all items for children and young adults can be found in the Children's Library. Everything else can be found in the Lending Library, unless otherwise stated.

• Barrington Stoke books for adults and children.
• Books, directories, leaflets and periodicals of interest to disabled people and their carers: in the Learning Centre on the first floor.
• Books on prescription.
• Disabled toilet: next to the Disability Resource Centre on the first floor.
• DVDs with subtitles.
• Graphic novels for young adults and children.
• Large print books.
• Low level counter at all desks.
• Magnifying glass: at all desk.
• Magnifying glass for sale.
• Makaton videos and books: small collection in the Disability Resource Centre on the first floor.
• Playaways: digital audio books.
• Reading glasses for sale.
• Quick Reads.
• Spoken word cassettes and CDs for adults and children.
• Wheelchairs for use in the library: please ask staff if you need one.

Reading group

Although known as the Visually Impaired person's reading group, we welcome anyone who finds it difficult to read printed material, for example people with dyslexia and other cognitive impairments.

This friendly group meets on the third Wednesday of the month from 10.30am to 12noon.

Tapes are provided using the Calibre Tape Library and members are encouraged to suggest titles from the Calibre reading group catalogue.

For more details, ring 0117 903 6198 or email lending.library@bristol.gov.uk.