National and University Library, Ljubljana

Object description

The library is partially accessible. The staircase to the left of the main door leads down to the basement level where visitors can access the locker rooms and café. There are also stairs straight on from the main entrance. There is an office at the top left for book rental, while the main central staircase leads forward to the great reading room and exhibition spaces. To the right of the stairs is the entrance to the computer room, which was closed during our inspection and will be renovated shortly. The accessible sanitary rooms are behind the computer room on the connecting corridor, but there is not a lot of room to manoeuvre. The numerous staircases make the main entrance wholly inaccessible for wheelchair users, so a side entrance at the right side of the building has been arranged, where visitors use their cards to directly access the small reading room. People with mobility impairments can order and collect their materials here. A nearby lift provides access to all other floors, even the collections in the upper levels. Navigating the building is strenuous and complicated for wheelchair users due to the size of the building and the placement of the lift. Access is made easier by many motorized interior doors that can be opened with the use of the card. The building is not adequately lit.

Adaptations

1. People with mobility impairments:
2. The side entrance is adapted for wheelchairs,
3. The height of the library counter in the small reading room is adapted to wheelchair users,
4. There is a ramp at the entrance to the café,
5. There is sufficient room to manoeuvre indoors,
6. Many interior doors open automatically for card holders,
7. The reading rooms have moveable seating,
8. There is a suitably sized lift in the building,
9. The building has accessible sanitary facilities.
10. People with visual impairments:
11. The entrance to the building is easily recognizable,
12. The lift buttons have raised tactile letters,
13. The edges of stairs leading to the basement have contrasting visual markings.
14. People with hearing impairments:
15. The spaces have adequate sound insulation.

Deficiencies

1. People with mobility impairments:
2. The building main entrance is not accessible (due to stairs),
3. The accessible side entrance is not clearly marked,
4. The height of the library counter and café counter is not adapted to wheelchair users,
5. There is not sufficient room to manoeuvre indoors (sanitary facilities and the corridor in front of them).
6. People with visual impairments:
7. The reception desk is not located in the immediate vicinity of the entrance,
8. The path to the remote reception desk is not marked with tactile floor markings,
9. The central staircase is not equipped with a rail,
10. The edges of the central staircase do not have contrasting visual markings,
11. The exhibition space is not adequately lit,
12. The glass doors in the manuscript collection do not have contrasting visual markings.
13. People with hearing impairments:
14. The building is not equipped with an induction loop.