Services for users with disabilities
Within this page you can view a summary list of our services for users with disabilities, as well as specific services and information at our Stafford record office and our Stoke record office.
Summary
Car parking
All of our offices have parking spaces for orange/blue badge holders nearby.
Access to buildings
All of our offices are accessible by wheelchair users.
Booking appointments
When making your booking, please advise our staff if you have any particular special needs.
Please let us know if:
- you are a wheelchair user and would benefit from having more space around your table;
- you would like a height adjustable table;
- you are being accompanied by a personal assistant;
- you have any other personal requirements
Toilets
All of our offices have lavatories with facilities for people with disabilities.
Refreshment areas
All of our offices have refreshment areas with a drinks machine.
Aural impairment
The reception desks at all of our offices are fitted with a hearing loop.
Visual impairment
Many of our leaflets are available in large print or Braille, please let us know if you would like to receive them; all of our offices have "Video Lights" for magnifying original documents and showing them on a flat screen monitor; magnifying sheets are also available at all offices; all of our offices have high magnification lenses available for use with our microfiche readers.
Emergencies
If you are visiting one of our offices and would benefit from assistance in evacuating the building in the event of an emergency please indicate this to a member of staff on arrival.
Height adjustable tables
Each of our offices has at least one height adjustable table, which may assist wheelchair users in particular. The tables are electrically operated and adjust quite easily. Please enquire about this facility in advance of your visit if you think that it may assist you.
Alternative formats of information leaflets
If you would like any of our information leaflets in Giant Print or Braille, or on audio cassette please contact us, specifying which leaflets you require.
Car parking
Staffordshire Record Office has two designated car parking spaces for blue/orange badge holders. These are situated directly opposite our main entrance gate. Please contact us for further information about how to access these spaces.
Access to building
The courtyard entrance/approach to the Record Office is level with ramp access to the main doors, which are automatic. There is a slight slope from the County Councillors' car park to the Record Office courtyard entrance. All visitor facilities are situated on the ground floor. Our emergency exit from the building also has ramp access.
Refreshment areas
A drinks machine and a seating area are provided in our main entrance hall.
Aural impairment
If you prefer to contact us by text phone, the number is 01785-278376. You may prefer to email us on staffordshire.record.office@staffordshire.gov.uk. Our main reception/counter area is fitted with a hearing loop. One of the members of our reading room team is qualified to BSL Level 1. In addition, the Learning and Archives Resource Centre is equipped with a hearing loop, which is available for use at talks and group visits.
Visual impairment
Many of our information leaflets are available either in large print or in Braille. If you prefer to receive these, then please inform us. We have a "Video Light", which can be used to enlarge images of original documents so that they can be viewed on a screen. Magnifying sheets are also available for use with documents on request. All of our public computers have text reading software installed. This allows the screen to be magnified or put on a different colour setting for people with particular visual impairments. We have high magnification lenses available for use with our microfiche readers, please ask if you wish to use this facility.
Emergencies
If you are visiting one of our offices and would benefit from assistance in evacuating the building in the event of an emergency please indicate this to a member of staff on arrival. We have two types of pager available for use by people with disabilities, as follows:
- A pager that is linked to the fire alarm and can be issued to readers with hearing impairments for use in the reading room. We have two of these pagers available.
- A 'man down' pager for use by someone who might be in a wheelchair or may need to request assistance from a helper. This consists of a pager worn by the person needing help and a second one worn by the designated helper.
Height adjustable tables
We have three such tables available for readers. Two are in our document reading room and one in our microform reading room. They are electrically operated and can be adjusted quite easily.
Car parking
Stoke on Trent City Archives is located in Hanley Library. There is on-street free car parking space at the front of the Library in Bethesda Street for orange/blue badge holders. Users may park for a maximum of three hours and there is no return within one hour. The multi-storey car park opposite the Library - entrance in John Street - has free parking all day for orange/blue badge holders, with lifts to all floors.
Access to buildings
The entrance / approach to the Library has level access to the main doors, which are automatic. The City Archives are located on Level E, with lift access.
Toilets
There is a public toilet with facilities for people with disabilities on Level A.
Refreshment areas
There is a refreshment area with a drinks machine and seating on the ground floor.
Hearing loss
If you have difficulty using an ordinary telephone, you can contact us using email: stoke.archives@stoke.gov.uk Our main reception / counter area is fitted with a portable hearing loop.
Visual impairment
Many of our information leaflets are available in large print or Braille, please let us know if you would like to receive them. We have a "Video Light" which can be used to enlarge original documents so that they can be displayed on a screen. Magnifying sheets are also available for use with documents on request. We have high magnification lenses available for use with our microfiche readers, please ask if you wish to use this facility.
Emergencies
If you are visiting one of our offices and would benefit from assistance in evacuating the building in the event of an emergency please indicate this to a member of staff on arrival.
Height adjustable tables
We have one height adjustable table available for readers in our document reading room. It is electrically operated and can be adjusted quite easily.
Making improvements to our services
We welcome feedback on all of the services that we provide. All comments made by users are taken into account when reviewing our services, planning improvements for the future and assessing the success of any changes made. Any comments you make, whether complimentary or constructively critical, are welcomed.
Comments should be addressed to the Head of Archive Services, Staffordshire Record Office, Eastgate Street, Stafford ST16 2LZ, or sent by email to joanna.terry@staffordshire.gov.uk
If you are visiting one of our offices, comment forms are freely available or, if you prefer, any member of staff will be pleased to take a note of any points you might wish to make.