Access to the Building

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There are 15 stone steps leading to the front entrance and these have two rows of centrally placed rails which are lit at night. A number of disabled persons car spaces have been made available on the south (Treasury) side. These are located near the ramp which provides independent wheelchair access to the building. Prior arrangements can also be made for entry to the building via the LG2 [Lower Ground Floor 2] loading bay by telephoning (02) 6262 1376.

Access to the front entry and the Main Reading Room is through self-operating doors and all other areas on the Ground Floor including the National Library Bookshop, National Library Gallery and bookplate restaurant are accessed through open doorways.

All floors are serviced by public lifts and the control panel for all lifts is placed at a height convenient for those in wheelchairs. A Telstra Hands-free (lower height) telephone is located in the Visitor Centre on the Ground Floor and Library users with impaired speech or hearing can also communicate with the Library via its Telephone Typewriter (TTY) on 1800 026 372.

A wheelchair for Library users is available from the Cloakroom on the Ground Floor. Readers' desks that are accessible to wheelchairs have been placed in all reading rooms and access to the Information Desk; the Call Slip Desk and some of the desks for using the Catalogue have also been designed for ease of access by people in wheelchairs.

Wheelchair accessible toilets are situated on LG1 along the corridor to the left as you leave the lifts.