Examples from Brighton and Hove and Bristol library services, checked 1 November 2026; other councils run equivalent services with local details.
Inside the library: what is already in place
Brighton and Hove states that all of its libraries are wheelchair accessible, that assistance dogs are welcome, and that adjustable desks and accessible keyboards and mice are provided for PCs in all libraries. It also offers virtual tours of its libraries so you can familiarise yourself with the layout before you visit, which is worth doing if you want to check where the accessible toilets, desks and shelving are. Bristol libraries all stock large print books and Reading Well titles recommended by health experts and people with lived experience, and their computers carry Microsoft Ease of Access tools including magnifier, text-to-speech narrator, on-screen keyboard, language options and high contrast. For blind or visually impaired readers, Brighton and Hove offers an Access library card with a longer loan period and free audiobook loans and reservations, plus a free e-library of e-books, newspapers and magazines with adjustable font sizes.
If you cannot get to a branch: home delivery
Both cities run a free home delivery service for residents who cannot reach a library because of health, mobility, disability or caring responsibilities. In Brighton and Hove the service delivers to residents who are unable to get to libraries, and a separate quarterly Book Box service supplies residential units and care homes with large print and standard print books, talking books on CD, jigsaw puzzles and reminiscence items. In Bristol the home library service is run with the Royal Voluntary Service: volunteers deliver books chosen around your tastes, and the service notes that volunteers can also provide a useful check on your safety and wellbeing. You can be referred or self-refer, using the online request form or the service email address. The key difference from an ordinary loan is that you do not need to carry anything home or return items yourself; delivery and collection are part of the service.
A checklist before your first visit or delivery
First, check your own council library pages, because the details above are Brighton and Hove and Bristol, and other councils run their own versions. Second, ask about a card that fits your needs: an Access card for longer loans and free audiobooks, or an exempt card if planning and organising tasks is difficult. Third, if you visit in person, look at the virtual tour or call ahead to confirm the accessible desk and toilet locations. Fourth, if you want home delivery, say what formats you prefer, large print, standard print or audio, and whether you want a volunteer to choose for you or to request specific titles. Libraries are free, the delivery services described here are free, and asking for adjustments costs nothing, so there is no reason to wait until a visit becomes a problem.
