Access Statement
The Leeds Library, No.15 and No.18 Commercial Street
Introduction
We aim to cater for the needs of our members, visitors, guests and staff of The Leeds Library to the best of our ability. The following is a summary detailing how we do this. If you have any specific questions, please do contact us.
You can contact us by telephone, letter or email. Details are at the end of this statement.
Pre-arrival
The Leeds Library is a 6-minute walk from Leeds City Train Station and a 9-minute walk from the city bus station, with many local bus routes available around the city centre. There is a taxi drop off point on nearby Albion Street. The Leeds Library has no private car parking facilities. The Smoke Room, Archive room and basement areas are unfortunately very constrained in the adaptations that can be made for people with mobility issues; this is because our premises are Grade II* listed as a building of special architectural interest dating from 1808. Wheelchair access to the Main Room and connected library spaces is available via our accessible entrance and lift at No.15.
Arrival
The Library’s premises are at 15 and 18 Commercial Street, which is pedestrianised. Vehicle access to Commercial Street is restricted to before 10.30hrs and after 19.00hrs. Vehicles accessing Commercial Street must be booked in with the council.
Main Entrance (No. 18)
The main doors to the Library are set back 275cm from the street. The doorway has 2 glazed doors, which open inwards. Both doors measure 91cm wide. Entrance to the library is controlled by a swipe card entry system and camera intercom system.
Main Entrance Foyer (No.18)
Entrance to the main library area is up a sweeping staircase with a handrail to the right. The staircase has 3 landings; there are 10 steps to the first landing, 5 to the second landing and 5 to the final landing. Each step is 17cm high. There is a stair lift. If it is necessary to summon the lift the operation buttons are set in the wall at the foot and top of the stairs. The ‘down’ button needs to be pressed continually until the stair lift stops at ground level. Staff are on hand to help with the stair lift if needed.
Main Room (No.18)
Entrance to the Main Room is through two quite heavy semi-glazed lobby doors each 84cm wide. These doors can open both ways. Immediately as you enter there is a security loop, which is 95cm wide. The Main Room includes access to the Main Room gallery, Reading Room, New Room, Archive room, Smoke Room and No. 15. Access to the Main Room gallery is by spiral staircases located at either end of the room. Each staircase has 19 steps; each step is 20cm high.
Archive Room (No.18)
The Archive room is located off the Main Room gallery and is only accessed by a spiral staircase. The door is protected by a number key lock. The door is 80 cm wide.
Smoke Room (No.18)
The Smoke Room is located off the Main Room gallery and is only accessed by a spiral staircase. The room has a double door each door is 55cm wide.
New room (No.18)
The New Room is accessed by 2 sets of heavy double doors, one at either end of the room. Each door is 62 cm; these doors are kept open during Library opening hours. The New Room gallery is accessed via the staircase in the west of the New Room and has 16 steps; each step is 17cm high.
Old Librarian’s Office (No.18)
The Old Librarians Office is accessed via a heavy oak door at the east end of the New room. This door is protected by a number key lock. The floor in this room is even throughout.
Reading Room corridor (No.18)
The bibliography passage connects the New Room and the Reading Room. The floor is level throughout.
Reading Room (No.18)
The Reading Room is accessed from the Main Room and the bibliography passage. Both doors open outwards and are 85cm wide. The floor in this room is level throughout.
Ladies’ Toilets (No. 18)
The ladies’ toilets are accessed through the bibliography passage, up 2 steps – the first step is 20cm and the second 15cm high. The outer door opens inwards and is 86cm wide; there are two cubicles with inward opening doors, each 70 cm wide.
Accessible Entrance (No.15)
The accessible entrance door is located between two street-level shops and is set back 120cm from the street. There is a single glazed door which opens outward; it is hinged on the left. The doorway is 110cm wide. Entrance to the library is controlled by a swipe card entry system and camera intercom system. This is located on the left-hand side of the door 100cm from the ground. Once a member has swiped their access card, or a member of staff has given remote access, the door will automatically open.
Accessible Entrance Foyer (No.15)
Entrance to the Library on this side of our building is via a lift. This is situated at the end of a 855cm long corridor. The corridor is 155cm wide and is carpeted for 340cm and then tiled for the remainder. There is slight slope at the entrance to the corridor. The lift can be called using a push button located 105cm off the floor on the left-hand side of the lift door. An emergency intercom is available within the lift as well as a hearing loop.
Lift (No.15)
The lift is suitable to carry up to 10 people (800kg) and has multiple landing doors:
- First Floor – Exit Forwards
- Second Floor – Exit Backwards
- Third Floor – Exit Backwards
The lift door is 100cm wide and the floor space of the carriage is 150cm x 130cm.
The lift is not suitable for evacuation in the case of a fire; there are safe refuge areas provided on each floor in the vicinity of the lift. All safe refuge areas have a call button linking directly to the fire alarm panel at the main entrance of the library.
First-Floor Landing (No.15)
The first-floor landing can be accessed via the Lift or stairs and links directly with No.18 through a passage on the right. Doors lead off the landing to the Event Space, kitchen and toilets. The refuge area is situated directly outside the accessible toilet.
Toilets (No. 15)
There are 4 unisex toilets that can be accessed from the first-floor landing, one of which is disability accessible. Each has self-contained sink and dryer facilities.
The accessible toilet has a no-touch sensor for opening the door. The door is 90cm wide and opens into the cubicle. The floor space of the cubicle is 280cm x 160cm. The sink is situated 70cm from the floor. The WC is situated 45cm from the floor. The hand drier is situated 102cm from the floor. A full-length mirror is provided, as well as an emergency alarm cord which will sound within the vicinity. There is also a child changing unit installed suitable for up to 11kg.
Kitchen (No. 15)
The kitchen has doors exiting to the Event Space and the first-floor landing. Both doors open inwards. The kitchen has a turning space of 150cm. The sink is positioned 84cm from the floor
Event Space (No. 15)
The Event Space has level access via the first-floor landing and Main Room. An infrared hearing loop system is available.
Second-Floor Landing (No. 15)
The second-floor landing is accessed by both stairs and lift. Doors lead off the landing to a single accessible toilet, Boardroom and Robinson Room.
Toilet, Second-Floor Landing (No. 15)
A second disability accessible toilet can be found on the second-floor landing. It has a no-touch sensor opening door. The door is 90cm wide and opens into the cubicle. The floor space of the cubicle is 240cm x 150cm. The sink is situated 70cm from the floor. The WC is situated 45cm from the floor. The hand drier is situated 102cm from the floor. A full-length mirror is provided, as well as an emergency alarm cord which will sound within the vicinity.
Boardroom (No. 15)
The Boardroom can be accessed via a push button door 90cm wide which opens inwards. An infrared hearing loop system is available.
Robinson Room (No. 15)
The Robinson Room is the main library space in the No.15 building. It has a hold open door which is 90cm wide.
Third-Floor Landing (No. 15)
The third-floor landing is accessed by stairs and lift. Doors lead off the landing to the roof garden and roof office.
Roof Office (No. 15)
The office has level floors with a push button door opening into the room. Plug sockets are located 55cm and 100cm above the floor.
Roof garden (No. 15)
The roof is not yet accessible but will be once funds allow. This policy will be updated accordingly. The roof is accessed by an outward opening door 100cm wide. There is a step 8cm from the door lip to the flat roof. Children under the age of 18 are not permitted to use the roof garden.
Backstairs (No. 15)
These stairs lead from the roof down to the fire exit into Change Alley.
Basement (No.18)
The basement is accessible from the entrance foyer and from the door beneath the gallery-access staircase at the west side of the New Room. At this time the basement is not open for public access, but members and visiting researchers are free to use it.
Physical Library Access
The Library does not have a large print books collection. Magnifying glasses are available on request. On the Library floor simple refreshments are available from the coffee corner. A serve yourself water boiler is available for use during all opening hours and is situated in the east of the Main Room.
Additional Information
Assistance dogs are welcome. Two computers are equipped for access to the Library catalogue, and staff will be happy to advise with this. Out of hours, the door access system is used to allow visitor access to events.
Contact Information:
The Leeds Library, 18 Commercial Street, Leeds, LS1 6AL
Telephone: 0113 2453071
Email: counter@theleedslibrary.org.uk
www.theleedslibrary.org.uk.
Updated by Sarah West 31.03.25
