Library locations and opening hours

Finding us

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For the current status of our buildings' opening hours please see below.

For information about study spaces within these buildings and elsewhere, please see:

For information about our resources and collections, including where to find them, please see:

For information about the food and drink, please see:

Morrell

About the JB Morrell Library

JB Morrell Library opening hours

The Library is open 24 hours a day, 362 days of the year.

Opening times are split into full service hours and self-service hours.

Find out what you can and can't do during these hours:

The Library houses collections to support your study and research in all subject areas.

The resources we provide include:

  • More than 1 million print books
  • Print journals
  • Electronic journals and books
  • Databases which index thousands more journals
  • DVDs, videos, CDs and tapes
  • Music scores, maps, theses by York students and other specialist resources
  • Collections of rare and valuable items

The Library Cafe is located in the JB Morrell Library, near the entrance.

Floor plans

View the location of subject resources, study areas, PCs and other facilities:

About John Bowes Morrell

The Library is named after John Bowes Morrell, a former Lord Mayor of York and a leading figure in the local movement to establish a university in York.

Fairhurst

About the Harry Fairhurst Building

About Harry Fairhurst

Harry Fairhurst was the first librarian at the University of York.

He was the fourth person to be employed by the University and began work before the Library had actually been built.

The Harry Fairhurst Building is open 24/7, 362 days a year.

The building offers a welcoming and stimulating environment for learning and research and provides over 500 study spaces across three floors.

Find out more about studying in the Harry Fairhurst Building:

These areas include easy access to power sockets and there is wifi throughout the building.

Fairhurst Kitchen in LFA/124 on the first floor with a sink, microwave, filtered cold water and hot water dispenser for drink and food preparation during normal 24/7 opening hours. Please note the housekeeping rules along with instructions for using the microwave oven.

Shower room on the first floor, available for all to use. 

To access the Harry Fairhurst Building, enter through the JB Morrell Library and continue left through the link corridor.

Books can be taken into the Fairhurst Building from the Library without the need to check them out.

Floor plans

View the location of subject resources, study areas, PCs and other facilities:

Study skills help

The Harry Fairhurst is home to the Writing Centre and the Maths Skills Centre.

Postgraduate space

The following areas on the second floor of the Harry Fairhurst Building are available for postgraduates:

  • The Research Study is a specialist study area for postgraduates, and includes a silent study room (LFA/227).
  • The Research Lounge is next to the Research Study, and provides an informal space for postgraduates to study or relax.

Burton

About the Raymond Burton Library for Humanities Research

Raymond Burton Library opening hours

The Raymond Burton Library is open 24 hours a day, 362 days a year.

Collections housed in the Raymond Burton Library include:

  • the Elton collection of history books
  • the Humanities Research reference collection

All the material in this library is for reference use only.

Access the Raymond Burton Library via the JB Morrell Library - enter through the main doors and turn right.

Floor plans

View the location of subject resources, study areas, PCs and other facilities:

Studying in the Raymond Burton Library

The Reading Room provides an attractive and conducive working environment.

For more information on study areas in the Raymond Burton Library, see:

About Raymond Burton

Raymond Burton was a businessman and philanthropist, and an active supporter of the University.

The Raymond Burton Library was officially opened in September 2003 and was jointly funded by the University and a generous benefaction from the Raymond Burton Charitable Trust.

Raymond Burton joked that he needed the Library to house his own extensive collection of books, playbills and manuscripts relating to Yorkshire.

King's Manor

About the King's Manor Library

King's Manor Library opening hours

Term time

Monday to Friday: 9am to 7pm
Saturday: 10am to 1pm
Sunday: closed

Vacation

Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday: closed

The Library is closed between Christmas and New Year, and on all public holidays except the May Bank Holidays, when normal term-time hours operate.

University term dates

The King's Manor Library houses collections relating to:

It also has smaller collections on the medieval period, archaeology and the "long" 18th century, plus a collection of slides covering medieval art and architecture (especially stained glass).

Kings Manor Library Floor Plan:

Book delivery service

You can request items from the JB Morrell Library to be delivered to the King's Manor Library (and vice versa) via our book delivery service.

You can return flexible loan books from the JB Morrell Library to the King's Manor Library and vice versa. You can also return books from York Minster Library to the King’s Manor Library.

King's Manor bookdrop

About the King's Manor

A Grade I listed building, the King's Manor has played host to royalty - Henry VIII, Charles I and James I have all stayed there.

The building was surrendered as headquarters of the Council in the North following the English Civil War (1642 to 1651). Since then it has been used as residential apartments, as the Yorkshire School for the Blind and by York City Council before being leased to the University of York in 1963.

It is currently home to the Department of Archaeology, the Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies and the Centre for Medieval Studies.

Read more about the King’s Manor or see our timeline for an overview of the Manor’s history.

When the King's Manor Library is closed, but the building is open, it is possible to return items via the bookdrop.

The bookdrop is the large brass letter box, located in the door to the right of the Library entrance.

Items returned via the bookdrop will be returned from your account when the Library next opens.

Study space

King’s Manor Library is a quiet zone on both floors, providing desks for individual study. The main entrance to the Library is on the first floor with a spiral staircase leading to additional study space on the ground floor.

For those with mobility issues an entrance is available on the ground floor. Please enquire at the King's Manor reception desk for access.

Photocopying, printing and scanning

There is a York Print Plus multifunction device available for printing, copying and scanning. You can top up your printing account online or with cash (up to £5) at the King's Manor Library Help Desk.

 

 

Contact us

  • Use Library chat
  • Email us via LibAnswers
  • Tel: +44 (0)1904 323969
  • Address: King's Manor Library, Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EP

York Minster

About the York Minster Library

York Minster Library opening hours

Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 9am to 5pm*
Wednesday, Thursday: 10am to 5pm*
Saturday and Sunday: closed

*Building closes to the public at 5pm. Users are requested to issue books and complete and photocopying by 4.55pm.

Special Collections and Archives appointments

Monday, Tuesday: 9.30am to 4.45pm
Wednesday, Thursday: 10.30 to 4.45pm
Friday: 9.30am to 4.30pm

Please note that appointments may be subject to a break between 12 and 1pm depending on staffing.

York Minster Library is the largest cathedral library in the country, with a collection of some 120,000 volumes. Over 25,000 of these were printed before 1801, including 115 incunabula.

The main subject coverage of the books in the Library is:

  • theology (all periods)
  • history (particularly ecclesiastical)
  • art and architecture (particularly ecclesiastical, and especially stained glass)
  • religious literature (all periods)
  • York and Yorkshire

York Minster Library is located in the Old Palace, based in Dean's Park on the north side of York Minster.

Borrowing

History of York Minster Library

Following a bequest of some 35 volumes in 1414, the Minster's book collection has grown through the centuries thanks both to new benefactions and active collecting.

By 1810 it had grown so much that new premises were needed, and the Library moved to the restored chapel of the former archbishop's palace, to the north of the Minster (The Old Palace).

  • University of York staff and students may borrow without charge from the Minster Library.
  • Members of the public can apply to the Minster Library for a borrower's ticket for which there is an annual fee of £30.
  • University of York staff and students can request items from the Minster Library to be delivered to the University Library for pick-up via our book delivery service.
  • The Minster Library uses the University of York's flexible loans policy, including the loan periods and overdue fees.
  • Minster library loans are now part of the total University loan count. Please see the Borrowing page to find out how many items you can take out. Due to procedures for closing the building at 5pm, all book issues must be completed by 4.55pm.

Returning

  • You can return Minster Library items to the University Library or the King's Manor Library.
  • You can also return items borrowed from the University Library and the King's Manor Library to the Minster Library.

Renewing

  • You can renew Minster Library items via YorSearch.

Requests

  • Items on loan can be requested online by University of York staff and students. 
  • Any requested items will need to be returned to the Minster Library within 7 days.
  • When the item is returned you will be notified that the item can be collected from the Minster Library.

Special Collections

Any item location marked "York Minster Library Special Collections" on the catalogue can be consulted by appointment.

Appointments must be booked with at least 24 hours’ notice by email to collections@yorkminster.org, and are subject to availability. A maximum of three user appointments can be supervised in the Reading Room at any one time.

Please remember that emails received after 4.30pm on Friday will not be checked until the following Monday.

There is no maximum limit to the number of library items you can request, but please give as much notice as you can with requests totalling more than 6 items as they may not be processed in time for next day appointments.

Please bring ID (University Card is acceptable) to register as a reader, and each time you wish to view items.

Photocopying

Copying charges

  • A4: 20p
  • A3: 30p

The Minster Library has a single black and white copier and is not connected to York Print Plus.

It is self-service and cash-only. Please ask at the Library Office (first floor Reading Room).

No Special Collections, pamphlet or pre-1900 item can be photocopied. The rest of the collection can be photocopied but we reserve the right to refuse if an item is in a poor condition or at risk of damage.

Due to procedures for closing the building at 5pm, all photocopying must be completed and paid for by 4.55pm.

Photography

You can photograph items in the collection yourself, subject to copyright and other conditions. Different types of photography permits are available to suit your requirements:

  • £1 per image
  • £10 per day
  • £25 for 5 day permit (valid for one year)

More details are available on the York Minster website:

Facilities

The Reading Room is open to the public, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. You do not need an appointment to come and work here.

Two wifi networks are available: eduroam which can be used by members of participating universities (including University of York) and CityConnect which is available to all. Find out how to connect:

The Reading Room Library catalogue computers cannot be used as desktop PCs or for access to external sites, email or e-resources.

The Minster Library also has one room available to groups of students and lecturers.

The Old Library can accommodate approximately 15 to 20 people, and it is a great environment for lectures and groups. Please contact the Minster Library (collections@yorkminster.org) to discuss using this room.

York Minster Archives

The Old Palace also houses York Minster Archives, which contains York Minster's manuscripts and records which can be consulted via appointment.

University of York staff and students can obtain a free one-year reader's ticket on production of a valid University card.

Contact us

Due to procedures for closing the building at 5pm, all book issues must be completed by 4.55pm.

Borthwick Institute

About the Borthwick Institute for Archives

William Borthwick

The Borthwick Institute for Archives was so named because the Trustees under the will of the late William Borthwick of Bridlington agreed to use his large legacy as an endowment for the new Institute in 1953.

The Borthwick Institute's collection includes archives from around the world, from the 12th century to the present day.

They also provide access to the Library's Rare Books Collection of rare and valuable items.

Visiting the Borthwick Institute for Archives

The Borthwick Institute is accessed via the JB Morrell Library - enter through the main doors and turn right. 

It is open to the public.

For more information, including opening hours, please see:

Library@Piazza

About the Library@Piazza

Library@Piazza opening hours

Monday to Sunday: 7.30am to 10pm

The new Piazza Library, located on Campus East in the Piazza Learning Centre is a learning space containing approximately 50 seats. The Piazza Learning Centre also houses a range of high-quality learning spaces including:

  • A 350-seat auditorium
  • A large flat-floor learning space, available for student activities and societies
  • A 350-seat restaurant with fantastic lake-views
  • The administrative and teaching home for the new International Pathway College