York Minster

Welcome!

Welcome to York Minster Library & Archives online

Thank you for visiting Britain's Largest Cathedral Library online. 

Should you have any questions, please get in touch by email, library@yorkminster.org, archivesenquiries@yorkminster.org  or phone 0844 939 0021 (ext. 2501 for the Library or 2520 for the Archives). Please note that appointments are necessary to visit the Archives. The Library is open to all,  Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. 

Free tours depart from York Minster Information Desk every Tuesday and Thursday at 2pm until September 3rd.

Borrowing notice

University of York readers, please remember that the J.B. Morrell and King's Manor vacation borrowing does not apply to York Minster Library: books need to be returned, or renewed, by their due date.  

Commemorating Henry VIII in the Minster Library

24 June 2009

York Minster Library boasts more than a hundred books on Henry VIII, ranging from his main political and religious decisions to his personal life and impact on the modern media.  From the very 16th century to newly-printed books, the Library offers a unique insight into the history of his reign.

As part of the celebrations for the five hundredth anniversary of his accession, York Minster will hold a touring programme linked to the British Library’s major exhibition on Henry VIII. The Minster Library is the perfect companion to that exhibition for those interested in hands-on research and primary sources on England's best-known king.

Generous Donation Given to Minster Library

3 June 2009

The Minster Library has received a very generous donation of books on Medieval history. John Watt, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne University, has been a regular reader of the Library for many years and has kindly donated material to the Minster Library in several occasions in the past.

This very significant contribution of more than a hundred books will enhance the Library's collection of Medieval studies available to all, free of charge. 

Bay 9: a new way to explore the city of York

26 May 2009

Local history has become one of the main subjects in York Minster Library Reading Room since dozens of books were moved from the Special Collections into that public area on Christmas 2007. Due to the ever increasing demand for material related to the city of York, the Minster Library now dedicates Bay 9 in the Reading Room to all matters concerning the history and wonders of this city, free to access and open to all.

Bay 9 is the perfect companion to Bay 4, dedicated to the county of Yorkshire, Bay 5, York Minster, and Bay 6, important historical figures related to the Cathedral.

York Minster Library successfully launches new borrowing system

28 April 2009

From April 6th, readers at York Minster Library are able to borrow books using their bar-coded card, which updates the catalogue record available on the Internet. University of York users do not need to register anymore with the Minster Library; the University and the Library now fully share their Circulation system.

The new computerized procedure ends a 250-year period dominated by broadly similar paper-based loan registers. Those registers were designed to record a few hundred loans a year. With the number of books borrowed growing from 558 in 1974 to 4,341 in 2008, and the Library receiving five times more visitors in the same period, the system proved to be inadequate for the new reality.  

The collaboration between the Dean & Chapter and the University of York has produced an efficient loan service for the 21st century, greatly improving the readers' experience and the overall efficiency of the Minster Library. The Minster Library has received excellent feedback since the launch and we expect the number of visitors and borrowers to continue the positive trend in 2009.

University life

3 April 2009

York Minster Library is a unique resource for students and lecturers. The collaboration between the University of York and the Dean & Chapter has produced an extraordinary rise in the library's usage and most of the regular readers are now related to the University. Only in the first three months of 2009, 129 students joined or renewed their Minster Library membership and totaled more than 80pc of the loans.

The new borrowing system, another successful collaboration with the University, is expected to notably improve the number of books on loan and to enhance the experience of a new generation of readers.

New circulation system

2 March 2009

From 6th April 2009 York Minster Library will use the same online circulation system as the J.B. Morrell Library . This means that readers will be able to check the availability of Minster Library items on the University Library catalogue and also to renew and request books online. 

University of York readers will need to register their University Library account as a Minster Library user before they can borrow, renew or request Minster Library items using their University Library card, which can be done at either the Minster Library or the University Library. Non-University readers have a new bar-coded card ready to pick up from the Minster Library. 

Please note that items borrowed from the Minster Library cannot be returned to any of the University of York libraries.