Visit Join & Give Explore & Learn
Visit
Join & Give
Explore & Learn

Accessibility Guide

The Boston Athenaeum welcomes people of all abilities as visitors and members. Staff members strive to foster an inclusive and accessible environment

Please contact Member and Visitor Services at membership@bostonathenaeum.org or 617-720-7604 if you need accommodations, are seeking information beyond the scope of this guide, or see anything in the guide that needs to be updated.

This guide was last updated April 20, 2023

LIBRARY RESOURCES AND SERVICES

Many library members and visitors find it helpful to consult with our Reference and Circulation staff to identify and locate books and other library materials. Contact Reference Librarian at reference@bostonathenaeum.org or 617-720-7658.

Borrowers at the library may:

  • Find and pull their own circulating books from the shelves
  • Request help from a librarian in locating and pulling circulating books from the shelves
  • Contact Circulation at  circulation@bostonathenaeum.org or 617-227-0270 x301 to request a book for pick-up at the Circulation Desk

Borrowers may also use our book mailing service:

  • Contact Circulation at circulation@bostonathenaeum.org or 617-227-0270 x301 to request a book
  • Outgoing postage is covered by the library, the borrower is responsible for return postage
  • A return mailing label is included with the book

In addition to print books, the library offers eBooks and eAudiobooks through the CloudLibrary app.

The Arthur & Charlotte Vershbow Special Collections Reading Room is physically accessible and has:

  • Table lamps
  • Wooden chairs with seat cushions, arms, and slatted backs
  • Wooden work tables
  • Magnifying glasses on request

PROGRAMS

Auto-generated captions are available for most virtual programs. For more information, please contact events@bostonathenaeum.org or 617-720-7600.

We offer five in-person tours each week. Tour guides speak without amplification. Tour groups typically use a combination of stairs and elevators to navigate through the building. Visitors can request accommodations at the time of registration.

SERVICE ANIMALS

Service animals are welcome. The Athenaeum also welcomes well-behaved pet dogs on leash.

PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY

As part of its historic character, the Boston Athenaeum has several different types of physical environments with varying levels of accessibility.

BUILDING LAYOUT

The library has:

  • 7 main floors (including two basement levels)
  • 5 open gallery or mezzanine levels
  • 2 terraces
  • A 10-story, semi-circular set of book stacks called the Drum
  • 2 elevators
  • 4 stairwells
  • 1 set of accessible, gender-specific restrooms
  • 3 accessible, single-occupancy, all-gender restrooms

FLOORING

  • Most floors are linoleum with low-pile area rugs, unless otherwise noted below
  • Gallery levels have glass tile floors

DOORS

  • Doorways are at least 36 inches wide, unless otherwise noted below
  • There are no power-assisted doors or automatic door openers

ELEVATORS

There are 2 elevators:

  • Elevator 1 is closest to the front of the building (north, or Beacon Street side)
    • It goes between the basement and the 5th floor, including all the gallery levels in between
  • Elevator 2 is closest to the back of the building (south, or Granary Burying Ground side)
    • It goes between Lower Pilgrim (sub-basement, button labeled “SR”) and the 2nd floor
    • It has front and rear doors
    • Front door opens on basement (B), 1, and 2
    • Rear door opens on Lower Pilgrim (SR) and Upper Pilgrim (BR)
  • Both elevators are wheelchair accessible
  • Both elevators have buttons in Braille

STAIRWELLS

There are 4 stairwells:

  • The main stairwell is located between the elevators on the west side of the building
    • It goes between the basement and the 5th floor
    • Steps are gray marble
    • There is a handrail on the entire staircase
    • Doorways from the stairwell are 34 inches wide
    • Doors open out from the stairwell onto the floor, except on level 2G, where the door opens into the stairwell
  • The secondary stairwell is located on the north, or Beacon Street side, of the building
    • It goes between the 2nd floor and the 5th floor
    • Steps are metal with a black non-slip tread
    • There is a handrail on some sections, but not all
  • A third stairwell is located on the south side, or Granary Burying Ground side, of the building
    • It goes between Upper Pilgrim (basement) and Lower Pilgrim (sub-basement)
    • Doors open into the stairwell
  • A fourth stairwell is located on the east end of the building inside the Drum
    • It goes between the basement level and the top of the Drum
    • Steps are dark gray stone
    • There is a handrail
    • Stairwell has low light

BOOKSHELVES

  • Books are shelved floor to ceiling, including on the gallery levels
  • Shelves in the basement and Lower Pilgrim are movable, compact shelving

Compact shelves open to varying widths, ranging from 32 inches to 48 inches

  • There is a 3 inch gap between the bottom of the bookshelves and the floor in the Drum stacks

LIBRARY FURNITURE

There is a variety of furniture throughout the library, including:

  • Wooden chairs with arms, cushioned seats, and slatted backs
  • Wooden chairs with slatted back but without arms
  • Wooden library tables
  • Armchairs
  • Step stools

FRONT ENTRANCE

The Boston Athenaeum’s front entrance is located at 10 ½ Beacon St.

  • Zero-incline accessible ramp to right-facing side of entrance
  • Outdoor hands-free motion detector located to right of door; indoor hands-free motion detector located to left of door
  • Handrail on right-facing side of stairs only

LOBBY

  • Accessible lift from street level to lobby level located to left within vestibule
  • Handrails on both sides of stairs
  • Two padded benches
  • Security guard(s) available for assistance
  • Accessible front desk
  • Marble flooring throughout

FIRST FLOOR, COAT ROOM

  • Accessible, all-gender, single-occupancy restroom
  • Accessible, sensor-activated water fountain
  • Lockers with digital locks available at various heights

FIRST FLOOR, GALLERY SPACES

There are various gallery spaces on the first floor, including the Bayard Henry Long Room, Gordon Reading Room, Leventhal Living Room, and Norma Jean Calderwood Gallery.

  • Wooden floors located in Calderwood Gallery and Leventhal Living Room
  • Padded and wooden furniture and area rugs throughout, locations subject to change based on institution and event needs
  • Wall-mounted display cases and touch-screen display locations in galleries may change with exhibitions. Please contact membership@bostonathenaeum.org for more information planning your visit. 
  • Accessible, multi-stall, gender-specific bathrooms located in hallway adjacent to Leventhal Living Room
    • Each restroom includes a baby changing station

FIRST FLOOR, CHILDREN’S LIBRARY

  • Built-in 2-step column for book displays
  • Shelving units are on wheels that remain locked
  • Board books and toys present in low baskets and bins; foam tile baby mats may be present on floor
  • Furniture includes: 4 14-inch-high chairs and 24-inch-high table, nook with floor cushions, window ledge seat, 3 padded armchairs
    • Armchairs tilted slightly; when sitting, one’s knees may be higher than seat

1G (FIRST FLOOR GALLERY)

  • Narrowest point of gallery is 19 inches wide
  • Railing is 32 inches high
  • Doorway leading into the Long Room has a raised threshold
  • Gallery space above Gordon Newspaper Reading Room is 32 inches wide
  • To access Seminar Room, take Elevator 1 (on the north/Beacon Street side of the building)
  • Seminar Room has large cushioned chairs which can be pushed under the table to create at least 38-inch-wide passageway around the central table

SECOND FLOOR

  • Accessible, all-gender, single-occupancy restroom
  • The Arthur & Charlotte Vershbow Special Collections Reading Room has double doors which can be opened if a wider doorway is required
  • The terrace door has a 3 inch raised threshold and 3 steps down
  • Terrace door opens outwards

2G (SECOND FLOOR GALLERY)

  • Narrowest point of the gallery is 22 inches wide
  • Railing is 32 inches high

THIRD FLOOR

  • Accessible, all-gender, single-occupancy restroom
  • Narrowest point is 33 inches wide in between bookshelves

3G (THIRD FLOOR GALLERY)

  • Narrowest point of the gallery is 20 inches wide
  • Railing is 30 inches high

FOURTH FLOOR

  • Accessible, all-gender, single-occupancy restroom
  • Narrowest point is 31 inches wide in between bookshelves
  • Doorway into Trustees’ Room is 27 inches wide with a raised marble threshold
  • Double doors can be opened if a wider doorway is required

4G (FOURTH FLOOR GALLERY)

  • Narrowest point of the gallery is 21 inches wide
  • Railing is 30 inches high

FIFTH FLOOR

  • Door into the Members’ Lounge is 32 inches wide
  • Door onto the terrace is 24 inches wide with 1 step up (8 inches high) and 3 inch high threshold

5G (FIFTH FLOOR GALLERY)

  • Narrowest point of the gallery is 21 inches wide
  • Railing is 35 inches high
  • There is no elevator access to 5G

LOWER PILGRIM (SR)

  • Door from the elevator vestibule opens inwards
  • Floors are linoleum (no rugs)
  • This floor has movable, compact shelving
  • There is a phone to call a librarian for help, if needed

UPPER PILGRIM (BR)

  • Door from the elevator vestibule opens into the reading room

BASEMENT (B)

  • Floor into the stacks is ramped upwards from elevator
  • This floor has movable, compact shelving as well as fixed bookshelves
  • The floor is uneven and in some areas between the stacks there are small steps

DRUM

  • Entrances to the Drum are located in the basement and on levels 2 and 3 (after renovation the entrance on level 1 will reopen)
  • There are 3 levels for every main floor

In-between levels are called “down” or “up” and can only be reached by stairs inside the Drum

  • Glass walkways that are 21 inches wide at their narrowest
  • 3″ gap between the walkways and the bookshelves
  • Doors into the Drum range in width from 32 inches wide to 35 inches wide
  • Doors open into the Drum
  • Ceilings have inconsistent heights and are very low in some places
  • Stairs between levels of the Drum are metal

BASEMENT DRUM

  • There is 1 step down (4 inches high) from basement level to enter the Drum
  • This area has uneven, brick flooring
  • The ceiling is low

CONTACTS

To request information beyond the scope of this guide or see anything in the guide that needs to be updated, contact:
membership@bostonathenaeum.org or 617-720-7604

To request help identifying, locating, and reserving books, contact:
reference@bostonathenaeum.org or circulation@bostonathenaeum.org or 617-227-0270 x301

To request accommodations for programs, contact:
education@bostonathenaeum.org or 617-720-7617

To request help at the front entrance, contact:
security@bostonathenaeum.org or 617-227-0270 x222