The Humanities and Social Sciences Library is in the McLennan/Redpath Complex on the lower downtown campus. The McLennan/Redpath Complex is made up of the McLennan Library Building and the Redpath Library Building which are connected by a hallway on the main floor (RDC).

McLennan Library Building Redpath Library Building Cyberthèque

McLennan Library Building

The McLennan Library Building has 6 floors. Other units within McLennan Library Building include the Service Point, Teaching and Academic Programs, Student Accessibility and Achievement Exam Centre, the Arts Multimedia Language Facility.

Study space on the main floor with various options including desks with privacy dividers and guest computer workstations.

Study space on the main floor with various options including desks with privacy dividers and guest computer workstations…

Gender inclusive, single stall accessible washroom with grab bar and free menstrual products.

Gender inclusive, single stall accessible washroom with grab bar and free menstrual products.

Main lobby with elevators and stair access to upper floors.

Main lobby with elevators and stair access to upper floors.

Walk-in IT support desk located by the printers on the main floor.

Walk-in IT support desk located by the printers on the main floor.

Library service desk and returns bin on the main floor.

Library service desk and returns bin on the main floor.

Open study space located around the perimeter of the building.

Open study space located around the perimeter of the building.

Highlights

Physical Accessibility

The washrooms on the street level of the McLennan Building are inaccessible by elevator.

Building access

Approach and entrance
  • Enter from the Redpath Terrace
    • Entrance into the McLennan Library Building (includes two sets of automatic doors that open outwards) (see Accessibility Guide, p. 31)
  • Entrance from McTavish Street
    • 3459 McTavish Street
    • Exterior stairs with handrails are located at street level under the Redpath Bridge.
    • They lead to the main McLennan Library Building entrance (includes automatic doors that open outwards).
Elevators and stairs
  • Elevators: 2 elevators, 860kg capacity each
    • Operate between floors 1 - 6
    • Floor indication: audio and visual
      • Foor indicator is very dim and above eye level
    • Braille: on all interior elevator buttons and emergency two-way communication system
  • Stairs: 1 staircase, 6 flights, between floors 1-6, located between the two elevators
    • Handrails on each side of the wide staircase
    • Carpeted, slip-resistant surface
    • Additional stairs in the entryway of McLennan Library building that lead to the street level where water fountain and multiple-stall women’s and men’s washrooms are located.

Washrooms and water fountains

Washrooms
  • Location: Street level
    • Women’s and men’s washrooms with multiple stalls each
      • manual door that pushes inward
      • infant change tables
  • Location: 1st Floor
    • The nearest washrooms are in the Redpath building.
  • Location: 2nd Floor
    • Men’s and women’s washrooms
      • manual door that pushes inward
      • narrow stalls
      • no grab bars, infant change table, or automatic door
  • Location: 3rd Floor
    • Men’s and women’s washrooms
      • manual door that pushes inward
      • narrow stalls
      • no grab bars, infant change table, or automatic door
  • Location: 5th Floor
    • Women’s washroom
      • manual door that pushes inward
      • one wheelchair accessible stall with grab bars
      • no infant change table or automatic doors
    • Men’s washroom
      • manual door that pushes inward
      • 1 narrow stall
      • no infant change table or automatic doors
  • Location: 6th Floor
    • Men’s and women’s washroom
      • manual door that pushes inward
      • narrow stalls
      • no infant change tables or automatic doors
    • Accessible gender inclusive washroom
      • manual door with a lever handle that opens outward
      • single occupancy
      • grab bars
      • no infant change tables or automatic doors
Water fountains
  • Location(s): on Floors 2-6, next to the washrooms, additional water fountain on street level (Inaccessible)
    • Approach: unobstructed, sufficient knee clearance for mobility device users
    • Bottle fill station: operated by sensor  
    • Drinking fountain: operated by push bars mounted on front and side

Study spaces and services

Service desks
  • Library Service Desk
    • Located on the main floor in the McLennan lobby
    • Features
      • counter- and standard-height options for consulting with Libraries Staff
      • returns bin is waist height and is located behind the Library Service Desk
      • bin for returns made outside of library opening hours is located under the Redpath bridge across from the Student Accessibility and Achievement Exam Center
    • Privacy: none (ask staff for alternatives)  
    • Sound level
      • talking
      • high traffic area
  • IT Service Desk
    • Located to the left of the Library Service desk, past the elevators.
    • IT Service Desk is counter-height.
Street level
  • Inaccessible by elevator
  • Take stairs located in McLennan Library Building entrance
Floor 1
  • Study spaces
    • variety of study spaces and seating
      • standard-height tables, some with small privacy dividers
      • chairs with and without wheels
      • comfortable lounge seating options
      • 3 narrow sound isolated study booths
  • Stacks
    • new items collection (regular loan)
  • Sound level
    • conversation floor
  • Lighting
    • natural light from windows around the perimeter
    • sensor operated overhead fluorescent lighting
  • Flooring
    • mix of tile and year-round low-pile carpet
    • high contrast between floor and walls
  • Equipment
    • 5 uPrint machines
    • paper shredder
    • flatbed scanner
    • number of staplers and hole punches near the IT Service Desk
    • counter-height self-checkout machines
      • located in the main lobby across from the Library Service Desk
    • 24 guest computer workstations at standard-height desks
    • charging towers and laptop lending machines
      • located in the hallway towards Redpath
  • Additional spaces
    • Self-serve reserves room
      • located to the left and behind the Library Service Desk
      • dim lighting
      • stacks for course reserves, hold requests, dictionaries, oversized DVS and DVDs
        • materials are shelved on top and bottom shelves in some instances
        • DVD stacks are on compact shelving (operated manually)
      • AV viewing stations for DVD, Blu-ray and VHS at standard height table with small TV screen
      • self-checkout machine
    • McLennan eClassroom (M1-76)
      • standard height worktables
      • height-adjustable chairs with wheels and no armrests
      • conversation zone/teaching classroom
      • year-round low-pile carpet
      • high contrast between floor and walls
      • natural light from windows and sensor operated overhead fluorescent lighting
      • 24 desktop computers with regular size screens.
      • Note: this room is only open when it is being used for a class.
Floor 2
  • Study spaces
    • a variety of workspaces and seating options are available
      • standard-height desks, some with privacy dividers
      • several height-adjustable/standing desks
      • chairs with wheels and no armrests
      • some comfortable lounge seating options
  • Stacks
    • microform and microfiche items are shelved on the highest and lowest shelves
    • aisles between some stacks are narrow and may not have enough space for people using a mobility device
    • maps are available on request
  • Sound level
    • conversation floor
  • Lighting
    • natural light from windows around the perimeter
    • sensor operated overhead fluorescent lighting
    • some workstations have task lighting with on/off control
  • Flooring
    • mix of year round low pile carpeting and tile floors
    • high contrast between floor and walls
  • Equipment
  • Additional spaces/features
    • Microfilm Viewing Room (M2-37F)
      • door always propped open
      • 2 microform reading stations at standard height tables
      • 1 microfiche/microform reader on low desk with no knee clearance
      • 2 overhead book scanners at standard height with toe and knee clearance for mobility device users
      • height adjustable chairs with no armrests
    • Data lab (M2-37A)
      • lever type door handle pushes inward
      • 12 computer workstations with specialized software installed at standard height tables
      • height-adjustable chairs with wheels and no armrests
      • window into adjacent interior space
      • overhead fluorescent lighting with on/off switch
      • 56 study carrels with storage available for graduate students, as well as undergraduate Honours students
        • Ask at the Library Service Desk for more information.
Floor 3
  • Study spaces
    • a variety of workspaces and seating options are available
      • standard-height desks, some with privacy dividers
      • chairs with wheels and no armrests
      • some comfortable lounge seating
  • Stacks
    • main collection of regular loan books located on the 3rd floor
    • no items on top or bottom shelves
  • Sound level
    • quiet study
  • Lighting
    • natural light from windows around the perimeter
    • sensor operated overhead fluorescent lighting
  • Flooring
    • mix of year-round low pile carpeting and tile floors
    • high contrast between floor and walls
  • Equipment
    • uPrint machine
    • charging tower in elevator lobby area
    • catalogue-only computer workstation at standing height desk
      • located in the elevator lobby area.
  • Additional spaces/features
    • Finance Lab (M3-53B)
      • for McGill students, staff, and faculty only
      • 5 computer workstations with specialized software at standard-height worktables
      • height-adjustable chairs with wheels and armrests
      • movable whiteboard
    • Individual graduate study rooms
      • 10 PhD study rooms with single-person seating
      • manual door with a handle that opens inward
      • fixed standard-height tables
      • chairs without wheels and armrests
      • carpeted flooring
      • motion-sensor fluorescent lighting
    • Full sized lockers
      • available for medium term loan to McGill graduate students and undergraduate Honours students
      • Ask at the Service Desk for more information.  
    • Several bookable study rooms of different sizes and features
    • 32 study carrels with storage available for graduate students, as well as undergraduate Honours students
      • Ask at the Library Service Desk for more information.
Floor 5
  • Study spaces
    • a variety of workspaces and seating options available
      • standard and counter-height desks
      • height adjustable/standing desks, some with partitions, some that are height-adjustable and others that are fixed
      • chairs with and without wheels, and without armrests
  • Sound level
    • quiet study
  • Flooring
    • mix of carpeted and smooth flooring
  • Lighting
    • natural light from windows around the perimeter
    • sensor operated overhead fluorescent lighting
  • Equipment
  • Additional spaces on the 5th floor
    • Individual graduate study rooms
      • 10 rooms with single-person seating
      • manual door with a handle that opens inward
      • fixed standard-height tables
      • chairs without wheels and armrests
      • carpeted flooring
      • motion-sensor fluorescent lighting
    • Several bookable study rooms of different sizes and features
    • 112 study carrels with storage available for graduate students, as well as undergraduate Honours students
      • Ask at the Library Service Desk for more information.
Floor 6
  • Study spaces
    • a variety of workspaces and seating options available
      • standard and counter-height desks, some with partitions, some that are height-adjustable and others that are fixed
      • chairs with and without wheels, and without armrests
  • Stacks
    • compact shelving that can be moved with a button
    • aisles between some stacks are narrow and may not have enough space for people using a mobility device
  • Sound level
    • quiet study
  • Flooring
    • mix of carpeted and smooth flooring
  • Lighting
    • natural light from windows around the perimeter
    • sensor operated overhead fluorescent lighting
  • Equipment
  • Additional spaces/features
    • 112 carrels with storage, available for graduate students, as well as undergraduate Honours students.
      • Ask at the Library Service Desk for more information.
    • Individual graduate study rooms
      • 10 rooms with single-person seating
      • manual door with a handle that opens inward
      • fixed standard-height tables
      • chairs without wheels and armrests
      • carpeted flooring
      • motion-sensor fluorescent lighting
    • Reflections Room

Floor plans

McLennan Library Building - M1/RM - Main floor

McLennan Library Building - M4- 4th Floor

Redpath Library Building

The Redpath Library Building has 4 floors. Other units within the Redpath Library Building include the McGill Writing Centre.

First come, first serve sound insulated study pods on the main floor of Redpath.

First come, first serve sound insulated study pods on the main floor of Redpath.

Stairs leading to the Cyberthèque, as well as 2nd and 3rd floors of Redpath.

Stairs leading to the Cyberthèque, as well as 2nd and 3rd floors of Redpath.

Access the elevators for Redpath’s 2nd and 3rd floors: from the stairwell, go through the doors and turn right.

Access the elevators for Redpath’s 2nd and 3rd floors: from the stairwell, go through the doors and turn right.

Study space with various seating options on the main floor.

Study space with various seating options on the main floor.

Private room for caregivers with workspace and activities for small children located on the 2nd floor.

Private room for caregivers with workspace and activities for small children located on the 2nd floor.

Study space with various seating options on the 2nd floor.

Study space with various seating options on the 2nd floor.

Highlights

  • Cyberthèque (street level of Redpath Library Building)
  • Classrooms: David C. Edwards (in Cyberthèque), Innovation Commons, Room A (1st floor)
  • Sound isolated study booths (1st floor)
  • Family Room (2nd floor)
  • Many bookable study rooms of various sizes

Physical Accessibility

The Cyberthèque on the street level of the Redpath building is inaccessible by elevator

Food options onsite

All located in Redpath Library Building

  • Redpath Cafe
  • Numerous vending machines, including snacks, drinks, sandwiches and salads, and office stationery
  • Microwaves

Building access

Approach and entrance
  • Enter from the McLennan-Redpath Terrace
    • Entrance into the Redpath Library Building (includes two sets of automatic doors that open outwards) (see Accessibility Guide, p. 43, note that the area marked with an X is now open)
Elevators and stairs
  • Elevators: 2 elevators, 2000kg capacity each
    • Operate between floors 1 – 3
    • Note: Cyberthèque is inaccessible by elevator.
    • Location: Located through the doors past the central stairwell to the right.
    • Floor indication: visual (floor indicator is very dim and above eye level)
    • Braille: on all interior elevator buttons and emergency two-way communication system
  • Stairs: 2 staircases
    • central staircase in the middle of the Redpath building goes between street level (Cyberthèque) and 3rd floors
    • additional staircase located in the McLennan-Redpath entrance lobby goes down to the street level (Cyberthèque) only
    • handrails on both staircases

Washrooms and water fountains

Washrooms
  • Location: 1st Floor
    • One accessible large single stall gender inclusive washroom with grab bars, infant change table, free menstrual products, and automatic door.
    • Female washroom with multiple stalls, including infant change table and one large stall with grab bars, free menstrual products.
      • Push door to open, pull to close, has an automatic push button.
    • Male washroom with multiple stalls and urinals, including infant change table and one large stall with grab bars.
      • Push door to open, pull to close, has an automatic push button.
  • Location: 2nd Floor
    • Men’s and women’s washrooms with multiple stalls, including one large stall with grab bars; and automatic doors with push-to-open button activation.
      • Women’s washroom has free menstrual products.
    • Additional washrooms with multiple narrow stalls located in the central stairwell; no automatic doors.
  • Location: 3rd Floor
    • Located in the hallway past the elevators, door to hallway is propped open.
    • Two large, single stall accessible washrooms with grab bars and automatic push to open button activation.
      • Neither has an infant change table.
      • Doors open outward and have pull handles.

Water fountains
  • Location(s): on Floors 1-3, next to the washrooms
    • Approach: unobstructed, sufficient knee clearance for mobility device users
    • Bottle fill station: operated by sensor
    • Drinking fountain: operated by push bars mounted on front and side
    • Additional water fountains on the 2nd floor in the stairwell, with manual turn lever and no knee clearance.

Study spaces and services

Floor 1
  • Study spaces
    • a variety of workspaces and seating options available
      • standard- and counter-height desks
      • some with privacy dividers, chairs with and without wheels and armrests
      • some comfortable lounge seating, modular couches, and banquettes
      • 3 narrow sound isolated study booths
    • fixed and movable whiteboards
  • Sound level
    • conversation floor;
    • some areas can be high traffic
  • Flooring
    • tile throughout
  • Lighting
    • natural light from windows around the perimeter
    • sensor operated overhead fluorescent lighting
  • Equipment
  • Additional spaces
    • Innovation Commons Room A
      • manual door with lever handle that opens outward, no automatic button
      • standard-height tables
      • chairs without wheels or armrests
      • carpeted flooring
      • windows along one wall
      • motion-sensor fluorescent lighting
      • fixed whiteboards
    • Innovation Commons Room B
      • doors propped open
      • standard-height tables
      • chairs without wheels or armrests
      • banquettes with booth seating
      • tile flooring
      • windows along one wall
      • motion-sensor fluorescent lighting
    • RM-16
      • door propped open
      • standard-height tables
      • chairs with wheels, with and without armrests
      • tile flooring
      • motion-sensor fluorescent lighting
      • Several bookable study rooms of different sizes and features
Floor 2
  • Study spaces
    • a variety of workspaces and seating options available
      • standard- and counter-height desks
      • chairs with and without wheels and armrests.
  • Sound level
    • conversation floor
  • Flooring
    • mix of low-pile carpet and tile flooring
  • Lighting
    • natural light from windows around the perimeter
    • sensor operated overhead fluorescent lighting
  • Equipment
  • Additional spaces
    • R2-06
      • no door
      • standard-height tables
      • chairs without wheels or armrests
      • low-pile carpet flooring
      • one large window
      • manually operated fluorescent overhead lighting
    • R2-10 (Family Room)
      • door with doorknob opens inward
      • low-pile carpet
      • one large window with blinds
      • sensor operated fluorescent overhead lighting
      • standard height desk
      • chairs with armrests and without wheels
      • comfortable lounge chairs with pillows
      • foam floor tiles
      • children's books
      • colouring books
      • toys
    • R2-16
      • no door
      • standard-height tables
      • chairs without wheels or armrests
      • low-pile carpet flooring
      • manually operated fluorescent overhead lighting
      • movable whiteboard
    • Several bookable study rooms of different sizes and features
Floor 3
  • Study spaces
    • entrance has door propped open
    • standard-height desks
    • chairs with wheels, and without armrests
  • Sound level
    • quiet study
  • Flooring
    • mix of low-pile year-round carpet and smooth tile flooring
  • Lighting
    • natural light from windows around the perimeter
    • sensor operated overhead fluorescent lighting
  • Equipment
  • Additional spaces:

Floor plans

Redpath Library Building - RM/M1 - Main floor

Redpath Library Building - R2 - 2nd Floor

Cyberthèque

The Cyberthèque is a large study space at the street level of the  Redpath Library Building  on the lower downtown campus.

The water fountain and washrooms are located outside the Redpath Cafe area.

The water fountain and washrooms are located outside the Redpath Cafe area.

Large accessible stall with grab bars in washrooms located by the Redpath Cafe area outside of the Cyberthèque.

Large accessible stall with grab bars in washrooms located by the Redpath Cafe area outside of the Cyberthèque.

A variety of seating options are available including standard- and counter-height desks, and booth seating.

A variety of seating options are available including standard- and counter-height desks, and booth seating.

Redpath Cafe area includes cafeteria-type seating, microwaves and vending machines.

Redpath Cafe area includes cafeteria-type seating, microwaves and vending machines.

The eClassroom has multiple computer workstations at standard-height desks.

The eClassroom has multiple computer workstations at standard-height desks.

The doors to the Cyberthèque have automatic push to open buttons and are propped open during building opening hours.

The doors to the Cyberthèque have automatic push to open buttons and are propped open during building opening hours.

Highlights

Physical accessibility

  • Inaccessible
    • No elevator access available
    • Requires the use of stairs

Food options onsite

Building access

Approach and entrance

Two entrances via the Redpath building

  • From the Redpath building entrance (see Accessibility guide p. 43, note that the section marked with an X is now open) 
    • Take internal stairs down one level.
    • This entrance leads to the Redpath Cafe.
    • No automatic door activation to stairwell.
  • From the McLennan Library Building (see Accessibility guide p. 31)
    • Go through the hallway to the Redpath building.
    • The internal stairwell to get to Cyberthèque is located just past the washrooms.
    • The doors to the stairwell are propped open.
    • Take the stairs down one level.
    • This entrance leads into the study space in Cyberthèque.

Washrooms and water fountains

Washrooms
  • Location: Redpath Cafe space near the vending machines
    • doors open inward and have automatic door with push to open button activation
    • no infant change tables
    • Women's washroom has 8 stalls including 1 large stall with grab bars
    • Men’s washroom has 5 stalls including 1 large stall with grab bars, and 6 urinals
  • Nearest gender inclusive washroom is in main hallway of the Redpath Library building, 1st floor.
Water fountains
  • Location: 1 located next to washrooms in the area outside the Redpath Cafe
    • Approach: unobstructed, toe and knee clearance for mobility device users
    • Bottle filler station: operated by sensor
    • Drinking Fountain: front and side mounted push bars

Study spaces and services

Main area
  • Study spaces
    • variety of workspaces and seating options available
      • counter-height worktables with high stools, banquettes
      • standard height desk
      • chairs with wheels and no armrests
  • Stacks
    • N/A
  • Sound level
    • conversation zone
    • can be used for individual or group study
  • Lighting
    • natural light
    • sensor operated overhead fluorescent lighting
  • Flooring
    • wall to wall low-pile carpeting throughout
    • high contrast between floor and walls
  • Equipment
David C Edwards eClassroom
  • Approach and entrance
    • door opens inward
    • no automatic push button
  • Study spaces
    • standard height desks
    • chairs with wheels and no armrests
  • Sound level
    • conversation zone
    • can be used for individual or group study
  • Flooring
    • year-round low-pile carpeting
    • high contrast between floor and walls