Our modern book collections
Open to readers Monday – Friday 10am – 4.30pm. Last entrance is at 4pm.
Durham Cathedral Library will close for the next Open Treasure exhibition changeover at 4.30pm on Friday 17 January, and will reopen at 10am on Monday 27 January. There will be no access to the Library during this time. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Durham Cathedral Library is also closed on Bank Holidays, for two weeks over the Christmas and New Year period, and between Maundy Thursday and Easter Tuesday. Additional closures for Open Treasure changeovers will be advertised on this page once confirmed. Please contact the Library for further information.
Our modern books are in the Sharp Library and Chapter Library, located in the Monks’ Dormitory. Please sign in at the Open Treasure Exhibition desk and present your Diocesan Reader card or Durham University card to access the Library.
Don’t have a reader card? Just ask a member of staff who will direct you to the Library where you can register. You will need some form of ID. There are more details in Free Library Membership.
The Cathedral’s special collections
You will need to make an appointment to view our special collections. These include the Refectory early printed books, music, and antiquary collections.
Appointments are available from Tuesday – Thursday from 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 4.30pm
Appointments are held in the Barker Reading Room. This is at the far end of the Monks’ Dormitory in the Open Treasure exhibition.