Spotlight on Accessibility

Ensuring that the Library's spaces are optimally accessible has been a priority in recent library renovations. Now other campus parties are learning from the Library's accessibility efforts.

In January and February, library staff members Alex McCulloch and Janet Wason provided tours for two campus groups – the Space Information Advisory Group and the Needles Hall Unit Space Committee – to provide them with an overview of the accessibility features on the Dana Porter Library's main floor and the lessons they learned during the floor's renovation.

"The goal was to make the floor as barrier-free as possible," explains Janet Wason, Coordinator of Library Services for Persons with Disabilities. "We wanted to be as proactive as possible and plan for the future because we knew that the customer service and building standards for the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act would be coming into effect in the next few years."

During their tours, Alex and Janet pointed to accessibility features on the floor that uphold principles of equitable and flexible use. Examples which you may recognize the next time you’re on the main floor include:

Signage with braille, tactile numbers, and pictograms. The height and colours used in signage was also considered.
Pathways to provide directional cues. For example, different coloured carpet is used to help direct students to the Adaptive Technology Centre's entrance.
Service points with lower counters for helping patrons in wheelchairs.
Adjustable public workstations for people with a range of body sizes and abilities.
Universal sliding doors with sensors that allow everyone to easily enter and exit the Library.
Ample spacing between book ranges in the reference collection.
An automatic door opener for the Adaptive Technology Centre with a long plate that allows a greater range of people, even wheelchair users with limited upper body mobility, to access the area.
Workstations in the Centre that are equipped with ergonomic chairs and are electronically adjustable up to standing height.
Adjustable lighting in the Centre's study rooms

Lessons Learned

Head of Circulation, Alex McCulloch led the Dana Porter Library's main floor renovation and emphasizes the importance of user testing when planning renovations with accessibility in mind.

"Even though we consulted users with disabilities we still discovered that the buttons for opening automatic doors that are used all over campus were not accessible to one of our users who had limited arm mobility," says Alex. "Having a long plate-style button that extends down to near the floor allows wheelchair users to bump their wheelchair into it to open the door and we replaced our button with one of these – these are also in our new group study rooms upstairs, and I believe Plant Operations is considering these a standard now for new projects."

Alex also suggests that you can always do more with more time and money, but understanding how your users would like to interact with your spaces is the key to ensuring you build in the best design ideas from the outset.

Moving forward, the Library is committed to continuing its focus on improving accessibility - in its spaces, resources, and services. More information the Library's guiding principles for accessibility can be found on its AODA Toolkit.

For more information, contact:

Head, Circulation Services
Ext. 35326

Coordinator, Library Services for Persons with Disabilities
Dana Porter Library
Ext. 33012

, Communications and Liaison Librarian
, Co-ordinator, Library Communications and Web Management
, Assistant, Library Communications and Web Development

February 27, 2013

In This Issue

news @ your library

February 28, 2013
Vol. 13, No. 2

news @ your library