Accessibility at Central Library

Accessibility at Central Library - technology and building access.

  • Getting around
    • Public transportation- Central library is close to the Evans Bank/Lafayette Square stop of the Metro Rail and is served by NFTA bus routes (pdf) 1,2,4,6,8, and 24.
    • Parking- Central library does not have a parking lot. Metered parking rates apply for on-street spaces including designated meters on William St. and Clinton St. near Ellicott.
    • Entrances – Entry doors are button activated
      • Main entrance, Washington St. facing Lafayette Square- No stairs however entry plaza can be tiring for persons using a walker or manual wheelchair.
      • Ellicott St. between Clinton and William- ADA compliant ramp leading to elevator accessing all public floors.
    • Staff can help you with physically retrieving items from shelves, carrying materials to checkout, guiding you through the building or assisting with filling out a library card application. Staff are not available to take dictation or fill out online forms.
  • Restrooms- All are ADA compliant but second floor facilities are most spacious.
    • First floor men and women, near Computer Services Desk
    • Second floor men and women, main corridor
    • Second floor family/caregiver- Contact Security for key
    • Auditorium Lobby (Aud events only) men and women, separate family/caregiver
  • Devices and Technology 
    •  Assistive Technology Room (ATR) (pdf) First floor. Sign-in and ID required at Computer Services Desk. Library card is not necessary.  Usage Guidelines (pdf) 
    • Sorenson desktop videophone is also available for public use in the ATR. Sign-in with ID is required at the Computer Services Desk, first floor.
    • Assistive Listening Devices- Available for programs taking place in the auditorium or in the first floor Ring of Knowledge. Ask at the Information Services desk.
  • Library collections - free material to enjoy in different formats.
    • Audio Books on CD (downloadable audiobooks are available system-wide)
    • Large Print books, first floor. Ask at Information Desk for specific locations.
    • DVDs with closed captioning and audio description. Media Room, first floor
    • Central Library keeps a small collection of children's picturebooks with Braille overlays. Find them in the Kids’ Space, first floor.
  • While B&ECPL does not hold an adult collection of books in Braille, free Braille books for children and adults are available to any person who is blind through a free membership with the Talking Book and Braille Library (TBBL) in New York State.