It's a Library, what's there to see?
The first thing you'll notice about the new library is the minecraft-esque design that makes all drivers on the road next to it and shoppers beside it stare up in awe. You can almost imagine building it yourself; it's a kind of cool thing to see such a simple design of a building, which such a complicated decoration over the top.
But other than a shinier, bigger building, what is so good about the new library?
But other than a shinier, bigger building, what is so good about the new library?
On visiting the New Library myself today I felt I couldn't fully appreciate all it had to share because of its sheer size; there really is a lot to take in.
I think there are some key things that stop this change from being simply a change of building, and a lot of spent money, and I really felt it had some very positive signs on the importance of education and community.
The key changes I saw were the vast improvements of accessibility compared to the last building and the real effort into aesthetic design. To manage both without compromising each other is easier said than done, but so far I think it's doing fairly well.
I'd definitely welcome other's opinions so please answer the poll when you've visited to give your views and perhaps consider giving the Library some feedback.
I think there are some key things that stop this change from being simply a change of building, and a lot of spent money, and I really felt it had some very positive signs on the importance of education and community.
The key changes I saw were the vast improvements of accessibility compared to the last building and the real effort into aesthetic design. To manage both without compromising each other is easier said than done, but so far I think it's doing fairly well.
I'd definitely welcome other's opinions so please answer the poll when you've visited to give your views and perhaps consider giving the Library some feedback.
Accessibility
So far I'd say the library is pretty disability friendly.
There are escalators on most floors with lifts on the right hand side of the entrance from the ground floor. There is a travelator (those stairless escalators) on the 3rd floor to the 4th with a voice notification to alert when you're near the base for blind friendliness, and those like me who like to get distracted and trip up.
Lights also decorate the length of the base of the escalators and are also just under the banisters, which heightens their visibility which can help those with visual impairments to more clearly see the directions of movement.
On the penultimate floor there is a (narrow) glass lift to the top floor, I believe there was a stair case around the building also and that the normal (and wheelchair friendly) lifts reached this point near by too.
In terms of ease of getting around, the building, while very large, always has some kind of assistive method to get around the building, and probably more chairs than books at this point! Thus isn't too bad for people who have pain. The voice recording for the travelator is brilliant for sight impaired individuals or the distractable. I can't comment on the availability of hearing loops however if the REP Theatres guide is anything to go by, which should apply to the same building, then it should also have the following:
There are escalators on most floors with lifts on the right hand side of the entrance from the ground floor. There is a travelator (those stairless escalators) on the 3rd floor to the 4th with a voice notification to alert when you're near the base for blind friendliness, and those like me who like to get distracted and trip up.
Lights also decorate the length of the base of the escalators and are also just under the banisters, which heightens their visibility which can help those with visual impairments to more clearly see the directions of movement.
On the penultimate floor there is a (narrow) glass lift to the top floor, I believe there was a stair case around the building also and that the normal (and wheelchair friendly) lifts reached this point near by too.
In terms of ease of getting around, the building, while very large, always has some kind of assistive method to get around the building, and probably more chairs than books at this point! Thus isn't too bad for people who have pain. The voice recording for the travelator is brilliant for sight impaired individuals or the distractable. I can't comment on the availability of hearing loops however if the REP Theatres guide is anything to go by, which should apply to the same building, then it should also have the following:
- Blue badge parking
- Assistance animals friendly
- Accessible toilets
- hearing loops at counters
- information in alternative forms (largeprint, braille, audio version of materials etc)
- and should welcome the public to raise any issues and ideas in improving accessibility and or additional requirements as seen below from the Rep Theatre.
Additional Requirements
If you have access requirements not covered above, please contact us on [email protected]:mailto:[email protected] or by calling 0121 236 4455 (Typetalk – 18001 0121 235 4455)and let us know how we can accommodate you.
If you have suggestions for how The REP can improve our access provision and are interested in joining our customer advisory group, please email [email protected]: [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!
Coming soon: Same old books, different cover?
Is the new library just a new cover to what holds essentially the same old books?
I'll talk about the new features of the library and how these can really be useful and central to our community.
I'll talk about the new features of the library and how these can really be useful and central to our community.