The Law Society Library – access for GSD members
The business of law is based upon paperwork. Precedents are being set even as I type, new legislation being proposed, enacted and tested in the courts. Solicitors have a constant stream of updated information to battle their way through and the most efficient way of doing this, even in today’s electronic age, is through the assistance of a knowledgeable librarian. In the first of two articles on accessible libraries, I’ll be discussing the accessibility of the Law Society Library, an invaluable source of updated information, backed by information professionals, within an institution which Law Society member solicitors are free to use.
Chancery Lane in London is a thoroughfare populated by impressive buildings and peppered with the sort of shops where striped shirts and ties will set you back a small fortune. In such a street, the Law Society buildings do not disappoint, but its grandeur and listed building status have meant a great deal of work on the part of the Society in terms of external lifts and accessible toilet facilities. The Law Society library is conventionally accessed via a winding staircase, but a lift is available – the good practice of Braille lift call buttons on the outside and an induction loop and audible floor announcer on the inside is only let down by the lack of Braille indicators on the inside buttons – although it must be said that the floor numbers are raised on the buttons, and therefore tactile. Exiting the lift, a narrow space just wide enough for a wheelchair, must be negotiated before you reach the door to the floor where the library is situated.
However, what the library lacks in terms of physical barriers, it more than makes up for in the friendliness and “can-do” approach of its staff. All library staff underwent DDA training in September 2005 and I’m pleased to say that this was not merely a piece of compulsory training where attendance was the only criteria for success. Library staff brought back with them a number of cost effective solutions to the access barriers they identified in their own building, including the installation of an seat at the enquiry desk, (previously enquirers were required to stand) and some very useful markings on the spiral stairs which has enabled them to be more visible for people with a visual impairment. Additionally, and on a health and safety note, fire alarms now include a visual signal for library users hearing impairment.
The library facilities are available either through a personal visit or by telephone/email enquiry. A member of staff is constantly on “enquiry duty” which requires that they wear a very fetching cordless headset and this enables them to access information within the physical confines of the building and relay that information direct to the enquirer. The enquiry desk itself has an induction loop installed. There is also a “Lawdocs” scanning service for documents and although a modest charge is levied for this service, the scanning equipment can enlarge material and a Braille embosser is also available. Staff have recently received a Vision Reader which allows books to “talk”. At present this facility is only available to personal visitors but it is hoped in the future that a recording device may be attached to allow tape, CD and MP3 recordings to be sent to enquirers requiring their documentation in audible format.
The library catalogues its material by subject area and very sensibly the most used materials are also the most accessible. However, the library, in common with many older institutions, has a serious problem with space. Some material is placed in climate-controlled storerooms within the building with the least used material stored offsite (in a salt-mine in Cheshire!) There’s a 48 hour turn-around time to request any of this information, but in terms of access to stock within the building, library staff are very helpful and will reach any material which is not within easy reach (for example the gallery area, accessed by spiral staircase) However, I would recommend that enquirers requiring additional assistance visit between 9am and 5pm as the last hour of operation from Monday-Thursday has a reduced staff compliment and assistance may be reduced at this time.
Aware that my own knowledge of access is limited, the Secretary of GSD Sir John Wall very kindly accepted my invitation to visit the library with me and inspect the IT facilities for blind and visually impaired library users.
Much of this accessible equipment was originally ordered under the auspices of the former librarian, Lynn Quiney, who provided an exhibition of equipment providers for GSD members to visit within the Law Society’s meeting rooms in 1999 so that choices of equipment could be made by existing and potential library users.
In addition to a text magnifier, there is a research computer with ZoomText software, a keyboard glove and tracker-ball mouse, and a further research computer which, in addition to the tracker-ball mouse and glove, has also been fitted with a Braille keyboard, and JAWS screen reading software. The version of JAWS used by the library is now somewhat dated (version 5) and usage instructions not available in Braille, but Sir John was impressed by the size of the tape providing instructions on the location of keys and the partially raised key/high contrast keyboard glove he tested on the day. Sadly, the library has not yet been able to obtain funding thus far for this technology to be extended to further computers.
To summarise, the Law Society library though not perfect, is clearly an example of good practice. Library staff have struggled long and hard to create an accessible space within an old building and have, on the whole, succeeded admirably. However, one of the most useful devices they have in terms of future access is also one of the most conventional. Situated in pride of place at the centre of the library is a suggestions book – and not just an ordinary suggestions book, because in this one, every comment is replied to by the library staff. GSD members who wish to access the library facilities can make their suggestions for enhanced access here, and with the input of our membership, there is no doubt that the library staff will have the ability to request more equipment to enhance access to their facilities in the future.
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