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Core Information

Physical access and the built environment

It should be noted that design of library buildings or modifications which consider the needs of patrons with a vision impairment will in no way impede the use of library facilities by other patrons. In most instances all library patrons will benefit from an enhanced service.

Some of the basic issues to be aware of when considering the access needs of vision impaired library patrons include:

• physical layout (shelving, placement of core service areas and so on)

• lighting 

• signage 

• safety  

• building elements (including doors, rails and allied fittings)
• colour

These are simple guidelines on areas to watch. More detailed coverage may be found in other publications such as Australian Standards.

Physical layout

Vision impaired library users benefit from simple, straight forward design and layout. Potential obstructions or physical hazards in circulation areas such as the lobby or corridors should be avoided. Low hanging signs or other potential hazards such as plants or suspended lighting could pose detection problems for the person with low vision and should be avoided.

Layout should be based on right-angle arrangements, which are easier for the vision impaired patron to negotiate than diagonal or circular patterns. Navigational aids such as tactile floor indicators can help map out areas and be used to aid orientation, (such as from the entrance to the reception desk).  Major circulation areas like corridors can be indicated by the use of hard floor surfaces, which also provide an acoustic orientation cue for the vision impaired user.

Large open plan areas may prove confusing and difficult to negotiate. These can be divided into manageable "capsules" through the use of tactile features such as portable screens or partitions. A tactile map of major library areas could be made available at a centrally accessible point such as the reception or reference desk for vision impaired patrons to orientate themselves.

Alternative format collections such as large print or talking books can be placed at a clearly designated and accessible location close to the library entrance or the reference desk. Such initiatives could also benefit other patrons and those with mobility difficulties.

If possible, automatic sensor operated doors could be installed to permit open access to the library building. 

Lighting and glare

It is difficult to propose an ideal lighting "formula" as the responses and needs of people can be highly individual and changeable. For many people with low vision, light can play an important role in providing orientation cues and residual visual information about their environment. Detailed specifications and recommendations for a variety of work areas have been produced by Australian Standards.

For many people with a vision impairment, particularly elderly library users, glare can be a major problem.  As a general principle, surfaces which are highly reflective or can generate a lot of glare are not recommended. These may include highly polished floors or timbers, large expanses of glass and laminated, glossy posters and displays. Sources of natural daylight such as large windows can supply useful levels of illumination but can also radiate high levels of glare. Adjustable blinds or curtains may be helpful in controlling light levels. To minimise glare, overhead lighting should be recessed wherever possible and light sources should be placed so as to not shine directly into the eyes.

Overall lighting should avoid patches or sudden changes from brightly lit to dark areas. The rapid adjustments necessary to accommodate the changes in light levels can be both difficult and uncomfortable for patrons with a vision impairment. Entrances and lobby areas may require a slight adjustment in light levels to aid the transition from natural light to an artificially lit environment indoors.

Signage

Be consistent with both style and placement of signage.
People with low vision can also receive information from visual displays. The location of signs is as important as the lettering.

For exterior areas, signs need to be:

• located near the entrance

• between the ground and eye level

• positioned where they will not cause injury

• In an accessible place allowing close inspection by a vision impaired person

• in clear, unobscured view

• uncluttered (not too many messages in the one place)

Interior signs should be placed at eye level near doorways or traffic areas, and clearly defined. Use large print signs with good, bold text and clear contrast such as black on white. Signs placed on glass panels or doors can be difficult to read and should generally be avoided. If it is necessary to do so, make sure that they are clearly accessible, well lit and on a static background to minimise confusion and interference.

"I'm tired of crashing into half-open doors, banging my head on signs I can't see and having to work through an obstacle course whenever I want to borrow a book."

Safety

Safety is important for people who are blind or vision impaired. An element of design or layout which a sighted library user may not even notice could pose a hazard to a library user with low vision.

Buildings should, where possible, avoid fixtures or structures which leave space exposed underneath them. Cane users may experience great orientation difficulty if unable to locate where an object or structure meets the floor.

Floors on stairs and other public access areas should be finished with non-slip surfaces.

Hanging objects or obstacles which protrude or are not clearly designated may pose a hazard.

Building components

Some general points to consider in this area are:

• stairs should be centrally located, well lit and safe to use. Steps should ideally be fully enclosed to prevent tripping and cane tips catching between steps. Handrails should be placed on either side of the staircase and continue uninterrupted to provide consistent orientation guides.

• doors should be placed to open inwards, and not out into open traffic areas. It is recommended that they be of the same type and consistent throughout the building with handles and signage in the same places. Ideally, the resting position of the door (if it were to be left ajar) is such that it would make contact with the closest wall, rather than protruding into the room. Automatic sensor doors, where possible, are best.

• reception desks are ideally located directly in front of the entry point to the building. Tactile markers can be useful in leading the person from the front door to the desk.

An element of design or layout which a sighted library user may not even notice could pose a hazard to alibrary user with low vision.

Checklist of building design considerations for the blind and vision impaired

We hope this checklist will help library staff provide accessible library buildings, collections and services. It is not the last word, but rather aims to promote awareness of the range of issues involved and the services which will help facilitate equitable access for all patrons.

Again, it should be emphasised that it is not simply design and structural elements which make the library space and services accessible and friendly for the library patron with a print disability. The key factor is the attitude and sensitivity demonstrated by staff.

(Specific areas, such as lighting levels or recommended distance between shelves should be considered in conjunction with the appropriate Australian Standard. A complete listing of those standards applicable to disability - such as Access and Mobility - is available from the Australian Standards office in relevant capital cities.)

P U B L I C   A C C E S S   A R E A S

• is an uninterrupted path of travel available to and within the building providing access to all required facilities?

• can all corridors and walkways open to the general public be used safely?

• are corridors and public walkways free of obstructions and potential hazards?

• does the main site entrance have self- opening doors?

• are handrails fitted at the main site entrance and in major traffic areas?

• do floors have non-slip surfaces?

• are rugs or other carpet/floor overlays firmly in place and anchored?

• can the after-hours book return chute be easily accessed by people with disabilities? In particular, is it accessible at street level, or do stairs or raised platforms need to be navigated to reach it?

• are counters and bench tops free of sharp edges and glass tops?

• are important stations such as the reference and general enquiry desk clearly marked and centrally located? Are the approaches to these areas obstruction-free?

F I XT U R E S   A N D  E Q U I P M E N T:

• if the catalogue is accessed via computerised OPAC, can terminals be operated easily and without obstruction?

• are computer terminal screens equipped with text enlargement software; voice output software; filters to reduce glare?

• is the photocopy machine easily accessed? Does it enlarge print?

• are desks, tables and work surfaces finished in light colours which offer good background contrast, and not high gloss which is highly reflective?

• is shelving which houses material for people with print disabilities clearly identified - with raised letters and/or large print?

S I G N AG E

are all major library areas and facilities clearly marked with tactile and/ or large print lettering:

- auditoriums, meeting rooms

- car park

- emergency exits

- catalogues and information desk

 - lifts

 - public telephones

- public toilets

- reference desk

- fire extinguishers?

• are signs of a consistent style and placement? (Sans Serif typefaces have been found most suitable for people with a print disability.)

• do they display good background contrast and avoid glossy reflective glossy finishes?

• do they conform to the appropriate Australian Standard?

• is there a tactile map of the library near the entrance?

• if the library produces and distributes information about its services to the public, is the information produced in large print or in other accessible formats such as on cassette?

L I G H T I N G

For specific detail, refer to the Australian Standards document AS 1680.

In the design of lighting for people with disabilities, particularly for those with partial vision and the elderly, consideration should be given to contrasting levels of brightness:

• are portable reading lamps available?

• are light switches and similar controls able to be clearly distinguished from walls and background surfaces (for example, by use of a white switch on a black background)?

• are public areas adequately lit for safety, but free from glare or dazzle which can present difficulties for people with epilepsy, the elderly and people with some kinds of vision impairment, (such as glaucoma)?

• are curtains and/or blinds available in public areas and can they be adjusted to control levels of glare and illumination?

B U I L D I N G  A C C E S S

• is there readily accessible public transport within the immediate vicinity of the library? If visitors to the library need to navigate a main road to access the building, is there a pedestrian traffic crossing in close proximity and is it fitted with audible indicators?

• does the library run a library orientation program for patrons with disabilities?

• does the library involve people with print disabilities in the planning of library services and facilities for that client group? Does it consult with appropriate specialist agencies and service providers to gather information and assistance as required?

S E R V I C E S

• does the library's collection cater for the needs of a representative proportion of its borrowing population? Does it include a suitable selection of materials in alternative formats?

• is the library's large print collection clearly designated and accessible?

• are the library's audio books on clear display? Are they located close to the entrance for easy access?

• does the library have any of the following equipment available to assist people with disabilities to access the collection and as full a range of library services as possible:

 - audio loop
 -  book rests/page turners
 -  audio cassette players
 -  Kurzweil reading machine - large format computer 
    screen/display
 -  low vision reading devices (for example, closed circuit TV)
 -  magnifiers
 -  carry bags
 - speech output enabled computer
 -  TTY telephone typewriter with printer

• does the library provide any programs or services for people with print disabilities?

• are people with print disabilities able to access the library remotely?

• does the library borrow from or refer borrowers to specialist services such as RVIB Library and Information Services or Arts Access as appropriate?

• does the library offer an appropriate level of training to staff to promote awareness of the issues involved in providing library services to people with disabilities?

• do the library collection development and loans policies offer any provisions which cater for the needs of people with print disabilities?

• does the library employ people with disabilities?