Accessibility

If you need assistance in retrieving Library materials, you may request it at any public service point and/or place holds on items in advance in person or via our catalog, phone, chat, or email.

Automatic Doors

Entrances to the Brookline Village Library, administration offices, Hunneman Hall, the Rabbit Hole, and all restrooms are equipped with door openers.

Catalogs

The catalog is set as the homepage on all public desktop computers, stationed on standard-height desks. Dedicated catalog computers are also available:

• across from the 1st-floor Reference Desk at a standing-height desk
• in the Children’s room on the ground floor at standard-height desks

Computers

Public desktop computers do not require library cards. They are equipped with Chrome accessibility features and are available at standard-height desks:

• in the Reading Room, behind the Reference Desk on the first floor
• in the Children’s room on the ground floor

Public Chromebooks must be checked out on a library card at the Reference desk. They are equipped with Chrome accessibility features and can be used anywhere in the Library building.

The following computer accessories and pieces of accessibility equipment are available for in-Library use upon request at the Reference Desk:

• Book Scanner with scan-to-MP3 capability
• Digital Magnifier
• Headphones*
• USB Mice
• USB Keyboards
• USB High-Contrast Keyboards

*Library card required

Drinking Fountains

Accessible water bottle fill stations and paper cups are available on each floor of the Library, outside the following restrooms:

• to the left of the Reference Desk on the 1st floor
• next to Hunneman Hall on the 2nd floor
• in the Common Area on the ground floor
• in the Children’s room on the ground floor

Elevators

Elevator access is available to all three levels of the Brookline village Library. From the main entrance, the elevator is located in the hallway on the right side of the atrium.

Entrances

The main entrances to the Brookline Village Library lead to the first floor. They are accessible from the sidewalk via ramps and are equipped with door openers. A secondary entrance is accessible via the Children’s Garden on the School Street-side of the building. It leads to the Children’s Room on the ground floor and is equipped with a door opener.

Meeting Spaces

Hunneman Hall

Hunneman Hall is located on the second floor of the Brookline Village Library. To access, use one of the main entrances, which are equipped with ramps and door openers, followed by the elevator in the atrium. The doors to Hunneman Hall are equipped with door-openers.

Hunneman Hall is equipped with assistive listening transmitters and devices, available upon request.

Conference Room

The Brookline Village Conference Room is located on the second floor of the Brookline Village Library. To access, use one of the main entrances, which are equipped with ramps and door openers, followed by the elevator in the atrium.

The Rabbit Hole

The Rabbit Hole is located on the ground floor of the Brookline Village Library. To access, use one of the main entrances, which are equipped with ramps and door openers, followed by the elevator in the atrium. The door to the Rabbit hole is equipped with a door opener.

Parking

Reserved accessible parking is available in the curved driveway in front of the Library. A small underground parking garage can be entered from the driveway between the Library and Town Hall; bear left at the bottom of the driveway. Note that there is no accessible entrance directly to the Library from within the parking garage. Five short-term parking spaces (15 minutes or less) are available in the curved driveway in front of the Library. Metered parking is available along Washington Street and Cypress Street.

Restrooms

Gendered Restrooms

Accessible men’s and women’s restrooms are located:

• to the left of the Reference Desk on the 1st floor
• next to Hunneman Hall on the 2nd floor
• in the Common Area on the ground floor
• in the Children’s Room on the ground floor

Study Spaces

Standard-height tables are available throughout the Library building for reading and studying.

Silent Study Space

Silent Study space is available at the marked tables in and outside the Brookline Room in the eastern corner of the 1st floor

Collaborative Study Space

All study spaces not marked as silent may be used for quiet talking and projects. Patrons meeting with a group of several people or using Library equipment such as Cricuts or sewing machines are recommended to make use of the common area in the ground floor of the Library. To access, use one of the main entrances, which are equipped with ramps and door openers, followed by the elevator in the atrium.

Private Study and Meeting Rooms

Three small private study rooms with standard height desks, and two meeting rooms with standard height tables and chairs are available to be reserved at no charge up to 24 hours in advance. Study and meeting room doors are not door-opener-equipped but can be propped open on request. Learn more about our study and meeting rooms.

Automatic Doors

The main entrance to the Coolidge Corner Library is equipped with door openers. The back entrance to the Meeting Room is equipped with a door opener from the inside.

Catalogs

The catalog is set as the homepage on all public desktop computers. A dedicated catalog computer on a standard-height desk is available in the atrium area in the center of the building.

Computers

Public desktop computers do not require library cards. They are equipped with Chrome accessibility features and are available at standard-height desks:

• in the computer area to the left of the Hi! desk
• in the Children’s Room, near the service desk

Public Chromebooks must be checked out on a library card at the Hi! desk. They are equipped with Chrome accessibility features and can be used anywhere in the Library building.

The following computer accessories and pieces of accessibility equipment are available for in-Library use upon request at the Hi! Desk:

• Digital Magnifier
• Headphones*
• USB Mice
• USB Keyboards
• USB High-Contrast Keyboards

*Library card required

Drinking Fountains

An accessible water bottle fill station and paper cups are available between the two bathrooms near the adult computers.

Elevators

During events, an elevator at the back of the building provides access to and from the Meeting Room.

Entrances

The main entrance to the Coolidge Corner Library is accessible from the sidewalk via a ramp and is equipped with door openers. The rear entrance is open during events and elections. It is accessible via a ramp on the left side of the building.

Meeting Spaces

The Coolidge Corner Meeting Room is located on the lower level of the Coolidge Corner Library. This venue is equipped with assistive listening transmitters and devices, available upon request.

There are three methods of access: (1) Use the main entrance, which is equipped with a ramp and door openers, followed by the lift in the far east corner of the ground floor. (2) Follow the outdoor ramp around the north side of the building to the ground floor entrance, followed by three stairs from the hallway into the room, or (3) Follow the outdoor ramp around the north side of the building to the back entrance.

Parking

There are four accessible parking spots available at the Coolidge Corner Library: three accessible spaces on Pleasant Street in front of the building, and one down the driveway on the right side of the building. Additional free parking is available in the bays at the rear of the building.

Restrooms

Accessible, gender-neutral restrooms are located:

• to the left of the Hi! desk
• in the back of the Children’s Room, near the world language materials

There is an additional accessible, gender-neutral bathroom in the back of the Meeting Room on the lower level and two non-accessible, gender neutral restrooms in the hallway outside the Meeting Room, which are available for use during programs.

Study Spaces

Standard-height tables are available throughout the Library building for reading and studying. All study space may be used for quiet talking and projects. There are no dedicated silent or private study areas at the Coolidge Corner Library.

Automatic Doors

Both the main entrance to the Putterham Library and the side-street entrance from the meeting room are equipped with door openers. The gender-neutral restroom closest to the front door is also equipped with a door opener.

Catalogs

The catalog is set as the homepage on all public desktop computers, and there is a designated catalog computer along the main service desk counter to the right of the entrance.

Computers

Public desktop computers do not require library cards. They are equipped with Chrome accessibility features and are available at standard-height desks straight across from the Library entrance.

Drinking Fountains

There is a water bottle fill station with paper cups available located between the two bathrooms near the Reserve Pickup Area.

Entrances

The main entrance to the Putterham Library is equipped with a door opener. A secondary entrance that leads directly to the Meeting Room is available at the side of the building during certain events. It is equipped with a door opener.

Meeting Space

The Putterham Meeting Room is located in the back of the Putterham Library and accessible through the main entrance, which is equipped with a door opener.

Parking

There is a small parking lot at the Library. Two accessible spaces are located across the lot from the building.

Restrooms

Accessible gender-neutral restrooms are located to the right of the main service desk, in the holds pickup area. For those attending a program in the Meeting Room, there are also accessible restrooms in the back room behind the Meeting Room.

Study Space

Standard-height tables are available throughout the Library building for reading and studying. All study space may be used for quiet talking and projects. There are no dedicated silent or private study areas at the Putterham Library.

We are actively working to increase our website accessibility and usability.

In pursuit of greater accessibility, the Library aspires to AA conformance to W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. These guidelines are an industry standard which help Web resources be more accessible to all people, regardless of technology or ability.

The Library understands that even if we surpass these guidelines there may yet be inadequate accessibility for some users. Therefore, we are always seeking to implement new solutions to ensure all people can access our resources, programs, and services. If you encounter any accessibility issues when using our website don’t hesitate to contact us or give us a call at (617) 730-2370.