Access at the Library

All levels in the two buildings of the State Library of New South Wales, The Macquarie Street building and the Mitchell Library, are accessible via lifts. The lifts are wheelchair accessible and some have braille signage and audible signals.

If you require assistance navigating around the library, staff at the Information Desk in the Macquarie Street foyer are happy to help and have a courtesy wheelchair available. 

Governor Marie Bashir Reading Room

The Governor Marie Bashir Reading Room is on Lower Ground 1 and 2 in the Macquarie Street building.

The lift in the Macquarie Street foyer can be used to access the Governor Marie Bashir Reading Room. You can access Lower Ground 2 via the lift or the stairs in the reading room.

Mitchell Library and Mitchell Library Reading Room

The lift in the Macquarie Street foyer can be used to access the Mitchell Library, the Special Collections area and the Mitchell Library Reading Room.

Toilets

Accessible toilets are on the ground levels of the Macquarie Street building and the Mitchell Library.

The accessible toilet in the Macquarie Street building has braille signage.

Tours

The Library’s guided History and Heritage tour is wheelchair accessible. The tour covers the Library’s buildings and spaces.

Phones

There is a public phone in the Mitchell Library on the Ground level. The phone is wheelchair accessible.

The nearest teletypewriter payphone is in the Queen Victoria Building. Find out more about teletypewriter payphone locations in the city. 

Hearing loops

There are two hearing loops in the Library:

• Metcalfe Auditorium
• Dixson Room

There are hearing systems in the Governor Marie Bashir Reading Room:

• Lower Ground 1
• Family History area on Lower Ground 2.

eResources

You can access most of the Library’s eresources from anywhere, anytime using your own device if you’re a New South Wales resident. You just need a Library card or have a registered NSW public library card.

Visit the Library to get access to the complete eresources collection.

ebooks

You can read the Library’s ebooks online or download them to your computer, tablet or mobile device. You can’t download ebooks to Library computers.

You need to be a New South Wales resident and have a Library card or a registered NSW public library card.

Learn more about using ebooks from the Library’s collections.

Talking 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 public, academic or work library about requesting an interlibrary loan.