What is UABD?
Universal Access By Design effectively unlocks the wealth of knowledge available in every library. UABD’s designed to not only ensure better access and use of the library resources for all students and general public, but also the library staff themselves.

How does it work?
Universal Access by Design uses colours and symbols to help people easily access different sections within the Library. This creates a more visual environment for the user, enabling them to find the correct shelf without having to rely solely on the traditional Dewey Decimal System, OPAC's or Librarians. It is of particular benefit for students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, or those with visual impairments, as it uses both colour and symbols (and not words) to aid the user in and around the library. Each of the Library’s main subject areas has its own colour and symbol associated with it, making it quicker and easier to distinguish sections and certain bookshelves.

Who is UABD for?
As the name suggests, Universal Access By Design is designed to be universal. It is a system that can be adopted throughout any Institute and any public library. The organic design can grow and evolve to suit each and every environment. The use of colours and symbols are only a small part of the whole system, which does not discriminate against people’s capabilities, creating universal access for all.