Taylor Institution Library for disabled readers

A room of desks with wooden bookshelves around the edge of the room

Accessibility

We aim to ensure that all our readers can access library services, although the design and layout of the Taylor Institution building means that not all areas are accessible.

The main entrance to the Taylorian is off St Giles’ and has ramp access. The front doors are powered. You will need a valid University card to access the building.

The library is spread over five floors, with the issue desk in the Teaching Collection on the ground floor and the research enquiry desk on the second floor. While some areas of the library can be reached only by stairs, much of the building can be accessed by the passenger lift from the entrance hall. There is also a platform lift from the entrance hall that provides access to the lecture room (Room 2) and the Slavonic Reading Room. Readers, including users of lightweight wheelchairs, can use the platform lift to access the Voltaire Room. Readers wishing to use the platform lift should ask at the lodge.

There is one accessible lavatory on the ground floor, near the Lecture Hall.

Staff will fetch books to the ground floor for readers with limited mobility.

You can find more detailed accessibility information in the University Access Guide. If you would like to discuss your support needs, including a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP), please contact the Disability Liaison Librarian for the Taylor Institution Library, Frank Egerton (frank.egerton@bodleian.ox.ac.uk).

For general enquires about accessibility and services for disabled readers, contact: tay-enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk. 

Services and support

Ergonomic furniture

Please ask at the issue and enquiry desks for information on our height-adjustable desks, ergonomic chairs and footstools.

Electrically operated height-adjustable desks are located in the following rooms:

  • Ground Floor Teaching Collection, Greek Reading Room (2 desks)
  • Ground Floor Slavonic Reading Room
  • First Floor Teaching Collection Reading Room
  • Second Floor Periodicals & Reference Room

There is also a manually operated height-adjustable desk in the Microfiche and Microfilms area in the Second Floor Stack.

Assistive equipment

Assistive equipment is available in the library. There are induction loops at the issue desk and the enquiry desk. 

Please ask at the issue desk to borrow the following equipment:

  • book stands
  • daylight lamp
  • magnifiers
  • coloured acetate sheets
  • coloured paper for printing
  • ear plugs

CCTV/OCR magnifier

The Taylor has a DaVinci Pro CCTV/OCR magnifier, currently located in the French and German Reading Room. The device can display high-definition enlarged images which can be of benefit to readers with low vision. The device also has an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) mode which can take snapshots of written text and convert them to audio speech.

Please ask library staff if you wish to use the device. There are brief instructions near the device and a full instruction manual can be obtained from the enquiry desk. 

Services

We encourage members of the University to contact the Disability Advisory Service to discuss their requirements. The service will liaise with the library. Find out more about the support and services available for disabled readers from the Bodleian Libraries.

Readers who are not members of the University should contact the Taylor’s Disability Liaison Librarian, Frank Egerton, to discuss their requirements: frank.egerton@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Through the Disability Advisory Service, disabled readers can be registered with a library membership that provides extended loan periods and increased borrowing allowances. Readers can also request proxy borrowing on their accounts. This allows a nominated person to collect and return items on behalf of the reader. All items borrowed in this way remain the responsibility of the reader.