Opening times

Christmas and New Year: we will close at 4.30pm on Thursday 18 December and reopen at 9.30am on Monday 5 January.

Lunchtimes, Fridays, weekends and Bank Holidays: closed

Please check the University of York’s York Minster Library webpage for notifications of other closures.

You may visit without an appointment to browse or borrow books printed after 1850, use the Reading Room as a quiet study space and view a selection of historic items on display.

You will need to make an advance appointment to see material from Library Special Collections or archives and manuscripts (see booking details below).

Location and access

The Library and Archives are located in the Old Palace, behind York Minster, across Dean’s Park.

The Old Palace
Dean’s Park
York
YO1 7JQ

View on map

See our Plan Your Visit page for information about getting here and our precinct map for further details.

At the Old Palace, please use the intercom to the left of the door to gain access as the door will be locked.

If you have special access needs, please contact us in advance of your visit so that we can discuss options and seek to assist you. Note that

• level access to the building and a lift to the Reading Room, on the first floor, are available on request;
• registered assistance dogs are welcome in all public areas of the building;
• magnifying equipment is available on request;
• any assistant who helps with special access needs is not subject to any charge for an appointment to consult archives and manuscripts but is required to register as a reader.

Enquiries: email collections@yorkminster.org / telephone +44 (0)1904 557250

Our privacy notice for users of the collections explains how we handle your personal data.

• Search for specific books or general subjects by using the University of York catalogue and applying the filter for “York Minster Library” to your results.
• Search our archive, manuscript and object collections, by using our own online catalogue.

Access to some material is restricted because of its condition, depositors’ requirements, legislation, or non-statutory confidentiality considerations. The Collections team will advise you of any such restrictions. For more about this, see section 5.6 of our Collections Access Policy.

If you are able to visit but unable to find what you are looking for in the catalogues, please let us know at collections@yorkminster.org and we may recommend that you book an appointment to consult some of our paper catalogues that have not been added to the online catalogues yet.

You should limit your requests to 6 items per session (i.e. up to 12 items if you wish to book both morning and afternoon appointments).

We will confirm your booking by email within two working days. There will be a fee to access archives and manuscripts for visitors outside of the University of York (£10.50 for general visitors, payable by card on arrival: reduced fees for external students apply).

What to expect on your visit

• Research room guidelines will apply for the security of the collections: you will be asked, for example, to leave coats and bags in a locker on arrival, and only take pencils, paper and electronic devices into the Reading Room
• Photography is permitted in the Reading Room, but you must purchase a day permit from a member of staff on duty (£10.00)
• The Eduroam wifi network is available in the Reading Room for members of participating universities (including University of York). Unfortunately, we are currently unable to offer public wifi for other visitors
• University of York staff and students: the Minster Library does not have bookable IT or printing facilities. Photography charges still apply but borrowing is free
• Non-University library members will be able to arrange loan collection and returns by email
• The historic Old Library room is used for learning and other events but is not generally accessible to visitors: the books there are retrieved to be used in the Reading Room with an appointment