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Walthamstow Library

Walthamstow Library, High Street, London, E17 7JN

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • Services and facilities available in the venue include: a library, a children's library, a café, a meeting room, computers, a photocopying machine and a toilet with adaptations.
    • View information on opening times.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free access via a slight ramp at the most accessible entrance.
    • The most accessible entrance is the main entrance.
    • There is 1 other entrance.
    • There is stepped access at the other entrance.
    • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
    • The following areas have step-free access via ramps: the corridor next to the alternative entrance.
    • Doors are held open along circulation routes.
    • There are additional council services in the rest of the building that are not part of the library.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • Seating is available.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
    • There is not a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located to the far right side of the library.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a right hand transfer space.
    • Shared step-free standard toilet facilities are located to the far right side of the library.
    • Staff must be notified to unlock the shared standard toilets.
  • Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within the toilet with adaptations.

Parking

  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.
  • Public Parking View
    • On-street designated Blue Badge parking is available.
    • The on-street designated Blue Badge parking bays are located on Cleveland Park Avenue.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.

Main Entrance

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide.
  • There is a handrail on the right going up.
  • There are 4 steps.
  • There are handrails on both sides and also a central handrail.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The steps are unmarked.
  • The steps have tactile markings at the top and bottom.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There are double automatic doors.
  • The doors open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 177cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a low colour contrast.
  • There is a second, single automatic door.
  • The door is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 114cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a low colour contrast.
  • There are security barriers at the entrance.
  • The maximum width between them is 98cm.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
    • The following areas have step-free access via ramps: the corridor next to the alternative entrance.
  • Circulation View
    • Doors are held open along circulation routes.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor varies between low and high along circulation routes.
    • Some flooring is shiny and patterned.
    • There is no (or very little) background noise.
    • Wayfinding signage is not provided.
    • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.

Eating and Drinking

  • Location and Access View
    • The café is located ahead as you enter the library.
    • The most accessible route has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
    • There is step-free level access into this area.
    • There is open plan access.
  • Order and Payment View
    • This area has a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
    • The service counter was surveyed.
    • There is step-free level access to the counter.
    • The height of the counter is 95cm.
    • There is not a lowered section at the counter.
    • The counter has windows which may affect the ability of someone to lip read.
  • Service View
    • Full table service is not available.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Seating Area View
    • There is step-free level access throughout the seating area.
    • There is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the seating area (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is not space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
    • The walls and floor colour contrast varies between low and high.
    • Some flooring is shiny.
    • Seating available in this area includes: chairs without armrests and sofas.
    • Some seating is fixed.
    • Furniture available in this area includes: tables and booths.
    • Some tables are fixed.
    • The surface height of some of the tables is suitable for wheelchair users.
    • The clear height under some of the tables is suitable for wheelchair users.
    • There may be background noise in this area.
    • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Reception

  • Location View
    • The reception is located on the far left side of the library.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 30m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the reception has step-free level access.
    • Doors are held open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access to the reception.
    • The height of the reception desk is 122cm.
    • There is a lowered section at the desk, but it was obstructed at the time of the survey.
    • The height of the lowered section is 98cm.
    • The reception has patterned/distracting backgrounds which may affect the ability of someone to lip read.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
    • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
    • The flooring is shiny.
    • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.

Library

  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
  • The flooring is shiny.
  • The walls and floor colour contrast varies between low and high.
  • Seating available in this library includes: chairs without armrests, armchairs and sofas.
  • Furniture available in the library includes: tables and coffee tables.
  • Some tables are fixed.
  • The surface height of some of the tables/desks is suitable for wheelchair users.
  • The clear height under some of the tables/desks is suitable for wheelchair users.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • The height of the touchscreen display ranges from 77cm to 131cm from the floor.
  • The touchscreen has the following accessibility aids: adjustable font size.
  • This library is able to provide material in the following formats: large print, ebook and audio.
  • Auxiliary aids available in this library include: high visibility/contrast keyboards and headsets.
  • RelayUK is available at the library, providing a phone relay service.

Meeting Room

  • The room is located to the far side of the library.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 40m.
  • The most accessible route to the room has step-free level access.
  • Doors are held open along the most accessible route.
  • There is no signage on or near the door.
  • There is step-free level access into the room.
  • There is a single manual door.
  • The door opens away from you.
  • The door is easy to open.
  • The width of the opening is 85cm.
  • The door has a low colour contrast.
  • There is step-free level access throughout.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest.
  • The flooring is shiny.
  • The walls and floor colour contrast varies between low and high.
  • Seating available in this room includes: chairs without armrests.
  • Furniture available in this room includes: tables.
  • None of the tables are fixed.
  • The surface height of the tables/desks is suitable for wheelchair users.
  • The clear height under the tables/desks is suitable for wheelchair users.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Additional facilities/services include: a television.
  • There may be background noise in this room.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Toilet with Adaptations (Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the right side of the library.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 25m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is Braille, tactile, pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high colour contrast.
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The width of the opening is 90cm.
    • The door has a locking handle.
    • Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door, with a medium colour contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 187cm (width) x 185cm (depth).
    • There is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 112cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush for the toilet.
    • The flush is on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a dropdown grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown grab rail has a high colour contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a high colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 100cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The wash basin and tap can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 72cm from the floor.
    • There are vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high colour contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a high colour contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 92cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a low colour contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 94cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low colour contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 105cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin, a sanitary bin and a pedal bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 167cm from the floor.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 97cm.
    • The walls and floor have a high colour contrast.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.