Access and facilities for visitors with disabilities
Getting to the Wellcome Library
Taxis or private cars can drop off and pick up visitors at a small lay-by close to the Wellcome Collection entrance on Euston Road (see further details and a map).
We may be able to provide parking for visitors who are Blue Badge holders. Please call 020 7611 5778 well in advance to check availability. Parking spaces are not guaranteed and, if allocated, can only be used in conjunction with a visit to Wellcome Collection and/or the Library. We regret we cannot provide parking facilities to able-bodied car drivers accompanying a disabled
visitor.
Metered parking spaces are available on nearby Gordon Street and a NCP car park is situated at Euston mainline railway station in Melton Street. Streets south of Euston Road, including Gordon Street, are within the London congestion charge zone.
The entrance to 183 Euston Road from the street has a slight step (approximately 3cm). There is a wheelchair lift in the entrance hall providing access to the ground floor level, and the Library entrance on the 2nd floor is accessible by the lifts in the lobby.
Using the Library
Every effort will be made to assist you during your visit. Please contact us in advance if you need additional support to make the most of your visit and we will do our best to help.
The Library is on 2 levels. The Library is located on the 2nd and 3rd floors. There is no lift access inside the Library. If you would like to use the areas of the Library on the 3rd floor, please ask at the Library desk and a member of staff will escort you.
You can get to most public areas by wheelchair, but some older parts of the Library are inaccessible. Library staff will be happy to bring material to your desk from these and other areas. In order to avoid waiting time, please contact us in advance of your visit so that we can have the materials ready for you.
Readers requiring access to the special collections material should ask in the Enquiry Hall where a librarian will be able to help provide access to the Rare Materials Reading Room.
Wellcome Images and the Moving Image and Sound Collections are located on the 1st floor and can be accessed by appointment only.
Where possible, signage is designed to comply with the recommendations of the Disability Discrimination Act.
Services and facilities
Toilets
Within the Library the adapted toilet is located near the Library Reception on the 2nd floor. There are also toilet facilities on the Lower Ground 1 and 2, Ground and 1st floors.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome.
Cloakroom and lockers
Coats, bags and umbrellas are not permitted in the Library. Please leave these items in the staffed cloakroom on the lower ground floor or use the token-operated self-service lockers. Please be aware there is a £1 returnable deposit for items left in the cloakroom and the self-service lockers.
Study carrel
If you have special requirements – needing to bring a reader with you, for instance – you can book a private, unequipped, study carrel. Please contact us to book the space.
Induction loops
Induction loops are located at all service desks and in the E-Learning Room and Viewing Room.
We can also provide a portable induction loop for use within the Library and Wellcome Collection. You will need to switch your hearing aid to the 'T' setting to use these.
Accessibility equipment
We offer several assistive technologies to help visitors with visual impairments, including a dedicated workstation in the Enquiry Hall. This computer sits on an adjustable-height table.
Assistive software includes:
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JAWS for Windows - screen reading software that uses a multi-lingual speech synthesiser to read aloud information from the screen. JAWS is specifically designed for users with visual impairments
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Zoomtext - high-level screen magnifier that includes a range of colour and cursor controls
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Kurzweil - software application that makes printed material accessible to visually impaired users through the use of a scanner and speech synthesiser.
Other equipment available on request:
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Headphones for use with hearing aids as recommended by RNIB
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Touchpad mouse as used with a laptop
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Joystick-style ergonomic 'vertical' mouse
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Cordless trackball mouse
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High-contrast enlarged text keyboard
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Hand-held magnifiers
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Aladdin Rainbow elite book magnifier - stand-alone book magnifier with a range of colour and contrast controls designed to assist visually impaired and dyslexic users
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Portable fluorescent magnifier using daylight simulation tube.
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Adjustable chair
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Footrest
We want your visit to the Wellcome Library to be enjoyable and productive. Please contact us in advance of your visit if specific assistance or equipment is required.
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