A modern museum and library with a few niggles
4
4
Date of visit: November 2024
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hidden impairment, powerchair, toilet with hoist, toilets, walking aid, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Good
This spectacular multi-purpose venue, located in the centre of the city of Dunfermline, features a community hub, a stylish café, interesting exhibits and a community library. Let down only by a lack of parking facilities and local transport options, it's a place I'd highly recommend. Oh, and it's free to visit, which is always a bonus.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
Here’s the text with minor adjustments for punctuation, clarity, and consistency: There is level and step-free access at this location, although there are stairs if you can manage. Approaching from the front, there is a light incline leading up to automatic doors. As you enter, you'll smell the aroma of coffee from the Granary café, which is definitely my favourite smell. On your left, you'll find the main library and, just next door, the gift shop. The library desk has a lowered section and an induction loop, with the library itself being easy to navigate. I was able to manoeuvre around the gift shop easily enough. There's also a Changing Places toilet in the library area, but we'll touch on that later. On your right, you'll find a sloped section leading to the lifts, the reading room, and the kids' library, as well as an accessible toilet. The lift has buttons with Braille markings on the inside, a handrail, and an operational induction loop. It is a good size, able to accommodate a powerchair user and another person. There are no seats in the lobby areas, but there are in the library, galleries, and café. You can also borrow portable seats to take throughout the galleries to study the exhibits or just rest now and then. The café is a good size, but it was a bit of a bottleneck when lining up to order. However, people were quick to move out of my way, and the staff offered to bring my food to the table. The food and coffee are great. Although not in all exhibits, the Sir Joseph Noel Paton exhibit, which is a gallery space, has magnifying glasses, large-print binders, and large-print labels. These weren't immediately visible elsewhere in the museum. I didn't identify any Braille signag
Parking & Transport
Average
This venue doesn't have dedicated parking or drop-off zones and is not on a local bus route. There are two local car parks on St Margaret Street. Car Park 1 has a single accessible parking space, while Car Park 2 has no accessible parking spaces.
Accessible Toilets
Good
There are accessible toilets on each floor of the Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries; however, I only visited the two on the ground floor, those being the accessible toilet at the Children's Library and the Changing Places toilet in the main library. Ground floor accessible toilet: The toilet does not require a RADAR key for access and the door opens outwards. The toilet is small and has limited space for manoeuvring. The red emergency cord is hanging, but it is tucked behind the rail, making it difficult to access, though still functional when pulled. There is room for a right-side transfer, but a bin obstructs the space. The sink, which features a lever-style tap and the toilet pan have grab rails on either side. The walls are grey, and the toilet fixtures and rails are white, creating a contrast, though I feel this could be stronger. There is a mirror on the wall, a hand dryer, and a paper towel dispenser. The toilet was clean, and I noted that period products are also provided for free. Changing Places toilet: The toilet is well-equipped and features an adjustable change bed with safety rails on both sides, a wall-mounted shower, and a ceiling track hoist. The toilet pan has space to transfer on both sides, though the bed was positioned close to the right-side transfer space. The toilet has a contrasting toilet seat, rails on both sides and a colostomy shelf to the right. There is a large static sink with grab rails on both sides and a lever-style tap. The door requires a RADAR key, though you'll need to be let into the corridor by a member of staff in order to use it. There is an emergency cord at the toilet and the shower. The red cord hangs to the floor in both instances. As a Changing Places toilet, the room is spacious, easily accommodating all mobility devices, with ample room for additional people if required.
Staff
Excellent
The staff were great, keen to give me a tour and make sure that I left with a positive perception of the Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries,
