About the library

The Cathedral library can trace its origins to the library of the monastery founded at Lindisfarne by St Aidan in 635 AD, and houses the largest in situ medieval library in the UK, with manuscripts dating from the 6th century. It also maintains a large collection of early printed volumes across a variety of subjects, as well as a modern theology library.

A number of the Cathedral's local library catalogues are available online.

Accessing materials

Can I see live document availability on Library Hub Discover? No.

Can I obtain items via inter-library loan? No - this library does not participate in the inter-library lending scheme.

Can I visit the library to view materials? Yes - see the library's website for access details. If you wish to visit it is advisable to contact the library in advance, to ensure that they can accommodate you and that the material you need will be available.

Location

Browse all of Durham Cathedral's records in Library Hub Discover here.