All library facilities shall be accessible via a barrier-free path of travel. Routes should be kept free of obstacles such as recycle bins, garbage and boxes.

Aisles and routes should comply with Sections 2.7 Anthropometrics & 7 Circulation. They should be a minimum of 1060 mm wide.

15.1.1 Turnstiles cannot be used by persons using wheelchairs and can be hazardous to ambulatory persons who use crutches or canes. Where turnstiles, controlled checkout lanes, or other restricted passageways are constructed to control the flow of pedestrian traffic, at least one route shall be no less than 920 mm wide. (See Figure 7.4). Turnstiles are not recommended. Any gate or guard along the accessible route should not be locked so that it can be independently useable.

  15.1.2 Queen's signage guidelines should be utilized regarding tactile, contrast and the use of braille.

15.1.3. All work areas should be illuminated at 200 lux or greater. Sharp changes in illumination should be avoided. Five percent of the work stations with illumination of 500-700 lux should be available.

  15.1.4. A fire safety plan that includes the notification and safe evacuation of persons with disabilities should be in place. Fire safety information should be available in a variety of formats. See Section 22 for further information.

(Refer also to Section 10 Elevators, Section 11 Washroom Facilities, Section 12 Communications, and Section 21 Security.)

15.2 Information Displays and Bookstacks

Care should be taken to ensure that catalogues, display cases and terminals do not protrude into the pedestrian route causing a hazard for persons with visual impairments. See Section 2.

  15.2.1 A sampling of various books, information pamphlets or magazines should be provided within the heights of 500 to 1200 mm to comply with reach and viewing height requirements of persons who use wheelchairs. Reachers should be available to enable retrieving books where shelves are outside of this range.

15.2.2 Stack aisles shall be a minimum of 915 mm, see Figure 15.1 for aisle width requirements. Space for turning should be provided within continuous stacks. Dead-end stack aisles do not allow wheelchair users to turn around. A 1500 X 1500 mm turning space is recommended.

15.3 Work Stations, Equipment & Terminals (Computer and Microfiche)

Accessible work stations, equipment and terminal / microfiche stations shall be available which comply with requirements given in 13.7 and 13.8a-g.

  15.3.1 Where equipment is provided at work stations and for public use (photocopy machines, microform reader-printers, computer terminals, cassette players,etc.) all controls should be provided at a height of 1200 mm or less, and not require a reach of more than 500 mm to handle controls or retrieve materials. Controls should be colour-contrasted and located at the front of the equipment. A clear level area at least 750 x 1200 mm should be provided in front of all equipment.

  15.3.2 All microfiche and microform readers should be equipped with lenses to magnify print to at least twice normal size for people with visual impairments. At least one reader shall be equipped with a magnifier.

15.3.3 Microfiche collections should be filed with extra space or arranged on visible indexes, to allow people with impaired motor ability to handle them without difficulty.

15.3.4 Study carrels should not have fixed chairs. Ten percent of chairs that have back and arm rests are recommended.

15.3.5 Reading areas and study carrels should have space, approximately 500 x 500 mm available for service dogs to lie down without blocking aisles and other traffic areas.

15.3.6. An accessible (see Workstations 13.8) card or computer catalogue should be available. See Figure 15.2.

15.4 Circulation/Lending and Reference/Information Counters

  At least one circulation and one reference counter shall be at a height between 810 and 860 mm. Counters may be designed to provide "split-level" service with one section available at the lower height.

15.4.1 Aisles shall comply with Section 7 Circulation requirements. Signage identifying widened and lowered circulation and reference counters shall comply with Section 6 Signage.

15.4.2 The location of reference services should be clearly indicated and easily accessed from the main entrance.

15.4.3 A clear floor space at least 750 X 1200 mm shall be provided in front of all service counters.

15.4.4 Counters and the furniture should be free of sharp corners.

15.5 Special Equipment

        Technical aids that permit persons with disabilities to use library materials ranging from reachers (extenders or tongs used for retrieving books or other objects from high or low shelves) through computers that read text. Special equipment also includes reading machines that enlarge print for readers with visual impairments; magnifiers with or without lights; page turners; TDD's or telecommunication devices that enable deaf or hearing-impaired persons to communicate with the library; talking book machines for recorded books and journals; closed-captioning devices for audiovisual presentations; and special computers or modifying devices for computers that permit people with disabilities to use library catalogues and information files.