In 2023, we requested a review of each library through Advocacy WA. The purpose of the review was the check the major areas to highlight where we are going well, and where we need to improve. Per the recommendation of the City’s Disability Access and Inclusion Reference Group, the results and current progress of this review are shared below. Outstanding issues are in bold and will be updated as they are addressed.
Arrival
- The paths are wide and accessible, and the entrance easy to find.
- With several paths, however, it was suggested that additional signage could be added, perhaps with a braille component.
- The paths are mostly clear, but tactile ground indicators near benches and bins were advised.
Car Parking
- The markings for the accessible parking are faded and need repainting.
- Additional bays are recommended, due to the demand for them.
- Completed: It was recommended to add maps showing the locations of accessible parking bays to the website.
External Signage
- The phone number and street number are not printed on signage.
- The sign above the main entrance has poor colour contrast and uses all capital letters, making it difficult to read.
Front Entrance
- Access to the building is via an automatic door that is wide-enough for wheelchairs and prams.
- There are stickers and posters on the glass door, making it more visible.
Reception Area
- There is a sign directing people to the reception desk, and a low, wheelchair accessible desk is available.
- Pens and paper are available, should a customer require them to communicate.
- There is some clutter near the reception which should be cleared or highlighted with tactile ground indicators.
Ramps and Stairs
- There are no ramps or stairs in the building.
- The doors have tactile mats.
Building Considerations
- There are obstacles in the reception area that should be cleared.
- The doors are in good condition, but heavy which could make them difficult to open.
- Multicoloured flooring could be problematic for some people and should be replaced.
- The computer desks are wheelchair accessible.
Sensory Considerations
- Light and noise levels are appropriate.
Evacuations
- Multiple emergency evacuation signs were present and were easily seen.
Bathrooms
- The accessible toilet was clearly signposted, but the sign should include braille.
- The door is heavy and difficult to open.
Training and Boardrooms
- The meeting room is small, making a microphone or hearing loop unnecessary.
Arrival
- The footpaths are too narrow, uneven, and potentially dangerous.
- Kerb drop-off points have lips, making them difficult for wheelchair users and a potential trip hazard for others.
- The building entrance is difficult to find.
- Tactile ground indicators are recommended to guide people to the entrance.
Car Parking
- There are no vertical signs marking accessible parking spaces and there is no loading zone between these bays.
- The accessible parking is potentially unusable for some people.
- There are no kerb drop-off points near the accessible parking, requiring people to follow the road down to the entrance.
- Additional accessible parking bays are recommended, especially near the daycare drop off point.
- Tactile ground indicators should be added around the kerb drop off points.
- Tree roots protrude through the ground, making significant trip hazards.
External Signage
- Signage in the carpark is unclear.
- The nearby Toy Library sign has the potential to cause confusion and direct people to the wrong location.
- Contact details are present on the main entrance sign.
- Street signage does not provide sufficient information and the use of all capital letters makes the sign difficult for some people to read.
- Additional signage in the carpark, including phone number and street number, is recommended.
Front Entrance
- Access to the building is via an automatic door that is wide-enough for wheelchairs and prams.
Reception Area
- There is no signage to direct people to the library reception.
- There is a low desk at the reception area, but it does not have sufficient leg room to make it wheelchair accessible.
- The additions of pens and paper for customers who require them to communicate, and a bell to attract staff, are recommended.
- There is sufficient space for a wheelchair or pram. Important information is easy to find.
- The TV has closed captions turned on.
Ramps and Stairs
- There are no ramps or stairs in the building.
Building Considerations
- Most of the library area has sufficient space for people to move around.
- The staff office is small and would be challenging for staff with a physical disability.
- Doors are heavy and difficult to open.
- The door outside, which is the emergency exit, is heavy and difficult to open.
- Floor coverings are slip resistant, smooth, and securely attached.
- One of the computer desks has adjustable height.
- High contrast keyboards are recommended.
- The Accessibility Mode on the kiosk is insufficient for access.
Sensory Considerations
- Light and noise levels are appropriate.
Evacuations
- The emergency exit is clearly signposted, but the door is heavy and difficult to open.
Bathrooms
- There are separate male and female accessible toilets next to the library. Each has rails on the opposite side to the other.
- Both are clearly marked, but the sign should include braille and specify which side the rails are on.
- It was recommended to make the toilets unisex, so both rail options were available to everyone.
- The emergency button should be placed lower.
- The doors are heavy, and the handles could be difficult to operate.