Services for visitors

Accessibility

Entrances

You can access the front entrance and the Main Reading Room through automatic doors. Apart from the Petherick Reading Room, all other areas on the ground floor, including the Bookshop, the exhibition gallery and bookplate café, are accessible through open doorways.

There are 15 stone steps leading to the front entrance. The steps have hand rails that are lit at night. Car spaces for disabled access are on the south (Treasury) side of the building. Signage and road markers will show these areas.

Ramps

You can access the building by ramp or make arrangements to enter on Lower ground floor 2 (LG2) by telephoning security on 02 6262 1376.

Lifts and phones

Our lifts have control panels that are at a convenient height for people in wheelchairs. On the ground floor, opposite the entrance to the exhibition gallery, we have a public telephone that accepts coins and phone cards.

Visual and hearing aids

In the Main Reading Room you can use:

  • MyReader2 enlarger for magnifying images onto a computer screen
  • JAWS screen-reading software
  • computers with large screen and trackball mouse
  • magnification aids.

In the Newspapers and Microforms Reading Room you can use:

  • computers with large screens
  • magnification aids.

If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. Their contact details are:

Our general enquiry number is (02) 6262 1111.

The Library's Theatre on the Lower ground floor 1 (LG1) is fitted with a hearing induction loop for improved sound quality for visitors with hearing aids.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are available from the cloakroom on the ground floor. All reading rooms have wheelchair-accessible desks. Access to the information desk, the issues desk and some of the desks for using the catalogue are designed for access by people in wheelchairs.

Wheelchair-accessible toilets are situated on the LG1 to the left of the lifts.

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Computers and WiFi access

You can access the Internet in all reading rooms. Email access is available in WiFithe Main, Pictures and Newspapers and Microforms Reading Rooms. Microsoft Word 2007, Excel 2007 and PowerPoint 2007 are available on most computers in the main reading room (MS Word 2003 is supported).

WiFi network access is available to all visitors who bring a device that is capable of connecting to a wireless network (eg laptop computer, mobile telephone or personal digital assistant). Registration as a National Library Reader is not necessary. No login or password is required but there are terms and conditions of use which you must read and agree to in order to connect.

Please take the time to also read the Library’s Acceptable use of information and communication technology policy.

Facilities

Automated Teller Machine

An ATM, which accepts most cards, is available on our Lower ground floor 1.

Change machine

A change machine is available in the Main Reading Room (Ground floor) and in the Newspapers and Microforms Reading Room (Lower ground floor 1).

Cloakroom

You are requested to check large bags, coats, umbrellas or other large objects in our cloakroom. Enquiries about lost property can also be made here.

Copiers and printers

You can copy and print documents in most reading rooms. See http://www.nla.gov.au/infoserv/copying.html

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