Using the Reading Rooms

South Reading Room (Non-print Materials)

Relevant equipment:-

• Magnifying glass available to borrow from enquiries desk
  
• Screen reader machine (Supernova), which magnifies text and images, controls colour, brightness and contrast according to reader's individual needs. Reads or spells out any text on screen: documents, menus, web pages, emails etc in Welsh and English. Readers are welcome to bring their own Braille pads to the Library and attach these to the screen readers.
  
• BigKeys Keyboard. Please ask at the South Reading Room enquiries desk for further information.
  
• BigTrac Mouse. Please ask at the South Reading Room enquiries desk for further information.
  
• ScannaR Text scanner (ScannaR), which will read aloud any text document in seconds. You can control the speed and volume and select any of these languages - English, French, German, Italian or Spanish.
  
• Video Magnifier (Smartview). The SmartView video magnifier is a low vision aid that enlarges objects, actions and text onto a display screen.
  
• Text Magnifier(Aversion 300). This machine is located in the secure area of the South Reading Room and it can magnify text which is then displayed on the visual display monitor.

North Reading Room (Printed Materials)

Relevant equipment:-

• Magnifying glass available to borrow from enquiries desk
  
• Screen reader machine (Supernova), which magnifies text and images, controls colour, brightness and contrast according to reader's individual needs. Reads or spells out any text on screen: documents, menus, web pages, emails etc in Welsh and English. Readers are welcome to bring their own Braille pads to the Library and attach these to the screen readers.
  
• 21" screen PC at the far end of the catalogue room for readers with visual impairment who wish to search the Library's catalogues. Attatched to the 21" screen PC is a Text Magnifier (Avervision 300) which can magnify text and then display it on the 21" screen.
  
• Video Magnifier (SmartView). The SmartView video magnifier is a low vision aid that enlarges objects, actions and text onto a display screen. This machine is located in the catalogue room.

Relevant Areas:-

• Table no. 12 is designated for wheelchair users. It is located opposite the automatic doors.
  
• Staffed photocopying unit, where photocopies may be enlarged from A4 to A3, to assist reading.
  
• Designated laptop computer desks with sockets, at the western end of the reading room, near the newspaper tables. Readers, however, may not use digital scanners to scan any of the Library's items.
• The Erina Morris Room, near the microforms reading room, where users may use tape recorders or similar sound recording machines, provided other readers are not using the room at the time. Please ask the staff of one of the Enquiry Desks before using the room for this purpose.

Useful information:-

• The OPAC, a computerised catalogue, offers the possibility of entering keywords such as 'large print' into the main database, which will produce titles that are either published in large print, or discuss large print works.
  
• The Reading room open shelves house a number of reference works, which may prove helpful to disabled users. Class H for example, houses the 'Directory for disabled people' (HV3024.G7) and 'How to get equipment for disability' (HV1559.G7).
  
• The Library has a collection of 'talking books' in the National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales, together with listening equipment. A catalogue of Welsh language sound cassettes for the visually impaired is available, including Welsh writers reading their own material. All material in The Screen and Sound Archive needs to be requested at least 24 hours prior to viewing.

Screen and Sound Archive

• Listening and viewing rooms are fully accessible
  

DRWM

Providing a welcoming environment for all our visitors is an important principle behind the DRWM experience. We are fully committed to making your visit as easy and enjoyable as possible.

• DRWM is situated on the ground floor on the same level as the entrance. Turn right directly after the shop, and then right at the staircase, and the DRWM entrance is on your left.
  
• Low level counter and loop system in the box office
  
• There is a wide wheelchair access door into the auditorium.
  
• 4 chairs which can be removed on request to provide wheelchair spaces
  
• An infrared transmission system is available at the DRWM, and the best quality of sound is through a headset (these can be provided when entering the DRWM, please ask a member of staff). Alternatively, hearing aids can be switched to the T position.
  
• Assistance dogs are welcomed within the DRWM.
  
• There are 2 access toilets located on the DRWM floor (ground floor)
  
• 3 temporary wheelchairs are available from the ground floor entrance

For further information about access to the DRWM please contact us on 01970 632 534.

Further Information

If you have further needs or require further information, please contact us:-

Telephone: +44 (0)1970 632 800

Fax: +44 (0)1970 615 709

Email: swyddog.hygyrchedd@llgc.org.uk

General Enquiries: Enquiries Form

National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales: agssc@llgc.org.uk

To ensure compliance with the Library's general duty under relevant equality of opportunity legislation, the above has been considered and approved by the Equal Opportunities Group of The National Library of Wales.