Making the library accessible and inclusive for all
It is important that our physical spaces, services and other resources meet your needs and requirements. We are very happy to meet with you one-to-one for a personalised and confidential discussion about how to make the Haddon Library work best for you during your time in Cambridge.
While some of our students may be registered with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC), we recognise that this may not be the case for all and you may wish to discuss different types of support with us which are not exclusively related to disability.
While we endeavour to make our spaces and services as accessible and inclusive as possible, we are only able to achieve this collaboratively and with your help. If there is something you think we can provide, or advocate for change on your behalf, please let us know.
Step-free access to the building
The Haddon Library is located on the Downing Site in the Department of Archaeology. AccessAble has a good overview of the Downing Site. The main door to the building from the Downing Site is heavy to push and has two steps up. Once inside, you then pass through a manual pull door before turning onto a set of stone stairs leading up to the Library entrance. There is, however, step-free access from the archway to the Downing Site, on the east side along Downing Street.
There you will find a ramp and an automatic accessible door, which your university ID can open. Please let us know ahead of time if you would like to access this door, and we are happy to arrange activation. Once through the door, the lift is at the end of a long corridor. We are located on Floor 1. Upon exiting the lift, there is a button to the right of the heavy doors to open them. Please give us a call if this button is not working, and we will be happy to open the doors.
The lift can also be accessed via the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology during their opening hours.
Once in the Library entrance lobby, there is a short flight of steps up to the main Reading Room. These steps have a small stair-lift for wheelchair access. For access to the McBurney Room on the Second Floor you can take the lift to the second floor and a staff member will open the connecting door for you.
In addition, we are always very happy to fetch books or journals to a convenient location for you to consult or borrow.
Books and loans
Many of our books are at high heights. We have ladders to assist reaching books, but we are happy to retrieve any books for you. If you are a student, books borrowed from the library renew automatically each month and continue to do so until you graduate, unless the books are requested by someone else. You will receive an email if the books are requested, and then you have three days to return the book. However, please speak with us if you need a longer time period.
You can search for physical books based in the Haddon Library using the library catalogue iDiscover and filtering by "Haddon Library".
Other facilities
The Haddon Library sits within the wider Department of Archaeology and neighbouring Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology building.
There is a shared kitchen area on the ground floor where you can make hot drinks, microwave food, get cold water, or just take a break. You can bring food and drink into the Haddon Library as long as you are respectful of our rules.
There are toilet facilities throughout our buildings, with accessible and gender neutral toilets on the first and second floors, and separate cubicles located in the basement. Baby changing facilities can be found in the accessible toilets on the second floor.
Bespoke tours of our spaces
We are happy to give a personalised tour of the library space before the start of the academic year, or at a similarly suitable time, to discuss how the library can best meet your needs. Please get in touch and we'll arrange a convenient time to meet.
Other Cambridge libraries
You can find further information about accessibility services across Cambridge University libraries, including information about accessible readings, assistive technologies and library inductions and training on the Accessibility and Disability LibGuide.