The National Library of Ireland is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library.
Accessibility in Our Buildings
Main Library
Wheelchair access to the main Library building is at the main entrance on Kildare Street, via a ramp. On entry to the Front Hall, wheelchair users have access to the café which is located on the ground floor and to both the Main Reading Room and the Microfilm Reading Room on the first floor via the lift. The exhibition area on the lower ground floor can also be reached via the lift which is located to the right off the Front Hall. For Health and Safety reasons wheelchair users will be accompanied by a staff member in the lift.
There is an accessible restroom located on the ground floor at the back of the Front Hall.
“Evac” Chair
The National Library has procedures in place to assist reduced mobility Readers evacuate the Reading Room in the main Library building in the event of an emergency, using an “evac” chair. A member of Reading Room staff will meet with you on arrival in the Library to explain these procedures.
Hearing Loops
To assist readers with a hearing impairment to fully access the services and collections of the Library we have installed hearing loops at the Security Desk in the front hall, at the reference desks in the reading rooms and in the main exhibitons area.
Manuscripts Department and Exhibition Area, 2/3 Kildare Street
Due to restrictions relating to emergency evacuation from the Manuscripts Reading Room and the ground floor Exhibition Area (No.2 Kildare Street), research facilities for wheelchair users and mobility impaired readers are provided on the ground floor of No.2-3 Kildare Street (adjacent to the Exhibition Area). In advance of your visit to the Library to consult manuscript or rare book collections, and to avoid unnecessary delays, please contact Manuscripts staff at manuscriptqueries@nli.ie or telephone 01 6030386 so that we can help you plan your visit and ensure that the material you require is available for you.
There are accessible restrooms in the basement of the building; these can be reached by lift.
National Photographic Archive Exhibition
The National Photographic Archive exhibition space in Temple Bar is fully accessible for wheelchair users. The “evac” chair procedure referred to above is also in operation for the first floor of the Archive.
Guide Dogs
Guide dogs may be brought into all public areas of the Library buildings.
