Disability Support
The University Library is committed to providing equality of access to services and facilities, and to the development of an inclusive environment for all users and staff.
Services and facilities
We offer the following services and facilities for library users who require additional support:
- Accessible study rooms
- Alternative formats
- BeWell@NCL
- Book retrieval service
- Height adjustable desks
- Lockers
- University computer clusters
If you have specific individual needs, please contact Library Help.
Find out how to use these services and facilities below.
Related topics in Library Help
How to use these services and facilities
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Access to and within the Library
The Visiting the Library pages provide useful information about each Library and contact details.
There are three parking spaces reserved for disabled users at the rear of the Philip Robinson Library.
If you anticipate problems with either parking or entering the library, please contact the University Student Wellbeing Services or David Errington who will be happy to give advice and help seek solutions. The Library Attendants at the Reception Desk (just inside the entrance) will be pleased to help you.
Within the building there are two user lifts with low level tactile buttons and audio announcements which give access to all public areas. If user lifts are out of order please contact the Service Desk on Level 2 where staff will provide assistance with using the staff lift.
Most user areas are accessible to wheelchair users. Some areas which may present problems are:
- access to Level 1 which requires negotiating heavy doors
- doors to some study rooms which are of standard width
If you anticipate difficulties, please contact the Service Desk on Level 2 where staff will provide help and give advice.
The Walton Library is located on the 5th floor of the Medical School.
There is a parking bay at the front of the building for disabled users. A ramp gives access to the Medical School and there are lifts with low level tactile buttons and audio announcements which give access to the Library on the 5th floor. The Walton Library is on one level and all areas are accessible to wheelchair users.
If you anticipate difficulties, please contact Library Help so staff can provide help and give advice.
The library is located in the basement of Newcastle Law School (21-24 Windsor Terrace).
For parking please use the 3 available parking spaces reserved for disabled users at the rear of the Philip Robinson Library which is adjacent to the Law Library.
The library is accessible to wheelchair users via a lift located near to the Law School Reception; there is a power-assisted door to enable entry to the library itself. There are some areas of the library which will present problems to wheelchair users (e.g. steep ramps). If you require assistance, please speak to the Law Library Staff at the Issue Desk. If you anticipate problems with either parking or entering/using any library please contact the University Student Wellbeing Services or contact us through Library Help.
The Marjorie Robinson Library Rooms (MRLR) is the newest addition to the University Library, and is located at 89 Sandyford Road.
There are two parking bays to the rear of the Library, and a ramp to the front of the building to give access.
There are two user lifts with low level tactile buttons. If lifts are out of order please contact the MRLR Reception Desk.
Most user areas are accessible to wheelchair users. Some areas which may present problems are:
- living room spaces on the first and second floor
- doors to some study rooms which are of standard width
If you anticipate difficulties please contact the Reception Desk on the ground floor of MRLR, where staff will provide help and advice.
If you have mobility problems or impaired hearing please inform the Library Attendants at the Reception Desk when entering and leaving the library, so that in the event of an emergency we can alert the Fire Brigade to your presence.
Disabled refuges are situated in staircases C (Levels 3 and 4) and E (Levels 2, 3 and 4). Emergency call points are installed to enable you to contact the Library Attendants, and the double doors give half an hour protection from fire. We have an EVAC chair on Level 3 and 4, which can be used to evacuate you during an emergency.
Users requiring a personal evacuation plan should contact Library Help.
In the event of an emergency evacuation, please make your way to a landing outside a fire exit where an EVAC chair is available and staff will come to assist you.
Users requiring a personal disability plan should contact Library Help.
It would be helpful if users with mobility problems or impaired hearing could advise Library Staff at the Issue Desk when entering and leaving the Library, so that we can alert the Fire Brigade in the event of an emergency.
Users with mobility problems should leave the building via the six available Fire Exits and await assistance.
Users requiring a personal evacuation plan should contact Library Help.
Disabled refuges are situated in all staircases on the first and second floors. Emergency call points are installed at each point to enable you to contact security. There are EVAC chairs at all disabled refuges on the second floor.
If you have any mobility problems or impaired hearing, it would be helpful if you would please inform staff at the Reception desk when entering and leaving the building.
Users requiring a personal evacuation plan should contact Library Help.