Disabled Access & Facilities

Ramp access

Wheelchair access to the Library is from the Swanston Street entrance. There is a ramp leading up to the entrance from the La Trobe Street side of the building. From here wheelchair users can visit the Murdoch Gallery, all reading rooms on the ground floor and the Mr Tulk cafe (through the Cloakroom). Mr Tulk can also be directly accessed by a ramp on La Trobe Street.

Public spaces above the ground floor such as the Cowen Gallery, the Redmond Barry Reading Room, the Heritage Collections Reading Room and the La Trobe Reading Room are all accessible via the lifts in the central lobby at the rear of the Information Centre. For the exact location see the Library floor plan. 

Located in La Trobe Street, the Conference Centre and Theatrette (Entry 3), and VICNET (Entry 5), have street level access.

Facilities

On the left as you enter the Information Centre, and adjacent to the Helen Macpherson Smith Genealogy Centre, is where the Disability Room is located. Here you will find adaptive/assistive technology including:

• closed circuit television 
• braille printer
• tracking ball
• book rests
• scanner which converts text to voice
• large screen monitors with adaptive software.

For more detailed information about the different types of technology that are available within the Library see the Adaptive & Assistive Technologies page.

The Library also has separate male and female toilets for people with a disability. These are located in the central lobby on either side of the lifts at the rear of the Information Centre.