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McMillan Reading Room

University of Glasgow, University Ave, Glasgow, G12 8QQ

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Services / facilities within the building include study areas and offices.

Getting Here (Gilmorehill Campus)

  • By Road View
    • The University of Glasgow Gilmorehill Campus is located to the west of Glasgow city centre.
      From Carlisle, Newcastle and the south, exit M74 on to the M73, joining the M8 at the Old Monkland junction.
      M8 exits for the University are J18 if travelling from the south, Edinburgh and the north and J19 if coming from Glasgow Airport and the west.
      Other main routes serving the University include Great Western Road (A82, north of campus), Clydeside Expressway (A814, south) and Byres Road (B808, west).
    • Car parking at the University Campuses is limited and a Vehicle Management and Enforcement Scheme is in operation.
      There is limited pay and display on street parking across the campus and a long stay pay and display public car park in Lilybank Gardens.
      There are designated bays for disabled staff, students and visitors across the campus car parks. Please see University of Glasgow parking notes for further details.
  • By Bus View
    • Buchanan bus station is the main bus terminus in Glasgow for inter city coach services.
      First Group buses Simplicity services 4 and 4A , bus routes 15 and 370 and Stagecoach bus services X25, X25A, X76 and X77 all stop on University Avenue by the Main Gate opposite the library.
  • By Train View
    • The nearest train station to the University is Partick to the west of the campus approximately 0.9 miles away (18 minutes) via Byres Road. There is step free access throughout the station via lifts and ramp access for trains. There is an induction loop at the booking office.
      The nearest train station to the east of the University campus is Charing Cross approximately 0.9 miles away (19 minutes) from Bank Street via Woodlands Road. There is step free access throughout the station via lifts and ramp access for trains. There is an induction loop at the booking office.
  • By Underground View
    • The nearest underground station is Hillhead on Byres Road. The station has stepped and escalator access to platforms only.
      The nearest underground station to the east of the campus is Kelvinbridge, the station has stepped and escalator access to platforms only.
  • Useful Links View

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
  • Site/Campus Car Parks View
    • There is not a site/campus car park within approximately 200m.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is not a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
  • On Street Parking View
    • Clearly signed and/or standard marked parking bays are available.
    • The dimensions of the standard marked parking bays are 250cm x 500cm (8ft 2in x 16ft 5in).
    • The on street standard parking bay(s) is/are located on Southpark Avenue.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • The McMillan Reading Room Building car parking is managed by the University's Central Services, which requires you to have a parking permit.
    • Blue Badge holders receive a permit free of charge.
    • There are designated bays for disabled staff, students and visitors across the campus. Please see the University of Glasgow parking notes for further details.

Site/Campus Car Park (Gilmorehill Main Campus)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off University Avenue, on North Front, Engineering Way, South Front, Science Way and The Square.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are the Main Building, Thomson Building, James Watt Building, Stair Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • There is/are 10+ designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 350cm x 550cm (11ft 6in x 18ft 1in).
    • The dimensions of the designated bays do vary in size.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is sloped access to the car park from the building entrances.
    • This car park is not clearly signposted from the Main Building.
  • Comments View
    • There are Blue Badge bays for disabled staff, students and visitors across the campus. There are Blue Badge bays by the South Front West Quad entrance, South Front Court and Senate entrance, North Front Business School entrance, Stair Building, McIntyre Building, North Front Gift Shop and Visitor Centre and The James Watt Building.
    • There is additional parking by the Kelvin Building and the Graham Kerr Building Hunterian Zoology Museum on Science Way.
    • Parking is free and permits not required from 5:00pm to 8:30am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.
    • Please see the University of Glasgow parking notes for further details.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
    • There is ramped/sloped and stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is / are double (with one leaf locked).
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 78cm (2ft 7in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located on the pathway leading to the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope does not bypass the step(s).
    • The ramp/slope gradient is steep.
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located in front of the entrance.
    • There is / are 12 step(s) to access the entrance.
    • There is not tactile paving at the top and bottom of the step(s).
    • The step(s) is / are not clearly marked.
    • The step(s) is / are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do not have handrails.

Outside Access (Rear Accessible Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the rear of the building.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is a bell/buzzer.
    • The height of the bell/buzzer is 90cm (2ft 11in).
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is/are push pad activated.
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The width of the door opening is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located on the approach to the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is slight.
    • The ramp is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp.
    • The ramp does have handrails.
    • The handrails are on the right going up the ramp.

Reception

  • McMillan Reading Room is located beyond the main entrance.
  • The desk is 12m (13yd 4in) from the lift entrance level 2.
  • The reception area is clearly visible from the entrance.
  • There is step free access to this reception area, via lift.
  • The lighting levels in the reception area are varied.
  • The reception desk/counter is high (110cm+).
  • There is not a low section of the counter (76cm or below) available.
  • The desk is staffed.
  • There is a hearing assistance system.
  • The type of system is a fixed loop.
  • The hearing system is available only on request.
  • The hearing assistance system is not signed.
  • Staff are trained to use the hearing system.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building via lift(s).
    • There is/are 5 clearly marked step(s), with handrails on both sides, for access to the reception desk.
    • The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps are located beyond the main entrance. The steps give access to the reception desk and the study area. This is shown in photographs 1, 2 and 3.
    • There is/are 10+ clearly marked step(s), with handrails on both sides, for access to the reading well, common room and standard toilets..
    • The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • Photographs 7, 8 and 9 show the steps to the reading well and access to the standard toilets.
    • There are doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
  • Getting Around View
    • There is clear signage for building facilities/areas in the foyer/reception area.
    • There is clearly written directional signage at key points of circulation routes.
    • There is good colour contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
    • The lighting levels are varied.
    • This building does not play background music.
    • There is a hearing assistance system.
    • The system is a fixed loop.
    • The fixed loop is located at the reception desk.
    • The hearing system is available only on request.
    • Staff are trained to use the hearing system.

Inside Access

  • The photographs show the reading area, common room and access around the balcony areas.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are 1, 2 and 3.
    • The stairs are located either side beyond the main entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 3m from the main entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, heavy, double doors to access the stairwell from the first floor upwards.
    • The lighting levels are medium.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is a landing.
    • The stairs split into 2 and the handrails are either on the left or right dependent on what side of the stairs you approach.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located beyond the rear accessible entrance.
  • The lift is a platform lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are 2 and 3.
  • Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
  • The platform lift accesses a small level change.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 400kg.
  • The lift is approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the rear accessible entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 100cm x 150cm (3ft 3in x 4ft 11in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does not have an audible announcer.
  • The lift does not have a hearing enhancement system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The lighting level in the lift is medium.

Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities

  • Accessible toilet facilities are located on the second floor.
  • Female and male standard toilet facilities are located on the first floor (basement).

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located on the second floor.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 47m (51yd 1ft) from the rear accessible toilet.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet, via lift.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is poor.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is heavy.
    • The door is locked by a locking handle.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 96cm (3ft 2in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is poor.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is fair.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 200cm x 199cm (6ft 7in x 6ft 6in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The height of the light switch/pull cord is 96cm from floor level.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 155cm (5ft 1in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a female sanitary bin.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • There is not a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is fair.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is fair.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are female sanitary and general waste (with no lid) disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The toilet has a backrest and a cistern.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 45cm (1ft 6in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder is on the dropdown rail.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is fair.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is poor.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 90cm.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the towel dispenser is 134cm (4ft 5in).
    • The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is poor.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is poor.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The male toilet is located on the first floor (basement).
    • There is stepped access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 8m from the bottom of the stairs.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is poor.
    • There is written text signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 80cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is lever mixer.
    • Lighting levels are good.

Emergency Evacuation Information