Accessibility at the Library
Information on how to get to the Library and move around it for people with a disability or who find mobility difficult.
Getting to the Library
Train
Martin Place Station is the nearest station and is wheelchair accessible.
Find out more about access to trains and Martin Place Station on the Transport NSW website.
Bus
Many wheelchair accessible buses stop near the Library.
Find out more about accessible bus travel on the Transport NSW website.
Ferry
The nearest ferry terminal is at Circular Quay, 750 metres from the Library. You can then take a bus to Elizabeth Street or Castlereagh Street.
Find out more about accessible ferry travel on the Transport NSW website.
Taxi
Nearest set-down point: Macquarie Street, 140 metres from the Library, towards Martin Place station.
Nearest taxi rank: Phillip Street, 200 metres from the Library, next to the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel.
Car
The Library has a limited number of accessible parking spaces in its underground car park. The entry is on Hospital Road.
Contact us before your visit to find out if spaces will be available.
Please note that the Library does not have an accessible drop-off zone.
You can find other accessible parking spaces at:
- Shakespeare Place, at the corner of Macquarie Street and the Cahill Expressway – four spaces
- 155 Macquarie Street, near the Bent Street intersection – two spaces, 120 metres from the Library
- Macquarie Street, near the Reserve Bank building – two spaces, 230 metres from the Library
- Sydney Eye Hospital Car Park, Hospital Road – 200 metres from the Library
Getting into the Library
The Library has two buildings – the Macquarie Street building and the Mitchell Library building.
Use the Macquarie Street building entrance. It has the following:
- wheelchair accessible ramp
- tactile tiles
- automatic door.
You can then move around both buildings.
Getting around the Library
Use the lifts to move between the public levels in the two buildings. The lifts are wheelchair accessible, and some have braille signage and audible signals.
The lifts provide access to areas such as:
Macquarie Street building
Travel to Level 1 (Exhibition Galleries) or Lower Ground 1 (Marie Bashir Reading Room and Photography Gallery) using the Ground Floor lift in the foyer.
Mitchell Library building
- Enter the Mitchell Library Reading Room using the lift located to the right of the entrance on Shakespeare Place.
- Travel to Level 1 (Exhibition Galleries) or Lower Ground 1 (Photography Gallery and Marie Bashir Reading Room) using the Ground Floor lift opposite the Objects Gallery, to the east of the Mitchell Library Reading Room.
Help if you need it
Staff at the information desk near the Macquarie Street entrance can answer questions and help you find your way around. They have a courtesy wheelchair if you need one.
Other services
Toilets
You can find accessible toilets in the:
- Macquarie Street building, ground floor – this has braille signage
- Mitchell Library building, ground floor.
Computers with adaptive technology
Two of the Library's computers have equipment and software for people with a disability or other needs.
These computers with adaptive technology are on Lower Ground 1 of the Macquarie Street building, in the Marie Bashir Reading Room.
Hearing loops
There is a hearing loop in the Library Auditorium.
There are hearing systems in the Marie Bashir Reading Room on these floors:
- Lower Ground 1
- Lower Ground 2 in the Family History area.
Audio books and large print books
You can borrow talking books and large print books from the Library's collections through your public, academic or work library.
Speak to your library about how to do this. You’ll need to request an interlibrary loan.
The indyreads platform also provides Library card holders with free access to ebooks and eAudio.