Special Collections Opening Hours

Due to continuing redevelopment work at Palace Green, access to our collections there will be restricted from August 2012 until 2014. We can only provide access to our collections for researchers by appointment, made at least two weeks in advance during this period.

However, many collections have now been temporarily transferred to 5 The College. To use the collections held at either location, please ensure that you contact us beforehand on 0191 3342972 or pg.library@durham.ac.uk in order that we can confirm when and where the material that you require will be available.

The exhibitions at Palace Green will remain open as normal throughout this period.

Palace Green Search Room Opening Hours

Please contact us in advance.

Palace Green Library opening hours and term dates.

5 The College Search Room Opening Hours

Please contact us in advance if possible.

Until 23 June 2013:

From 24 June 2013:

Closed Periods

Generally the Palace Green and 5 The College Search Rooms will be closed on Bank Holidays, unless by prior special arrangement.

Building works - 2012

If you are planning to come to Durham to consult our collections, please read the following carefully and contact us if you need any assistance.

October 2012

The Archives and Special Collections search room will be open at 5 The College (in the Cathedral precinct) Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. Most of our most heavily-used archive collections will be housed there along with our rare books and the modern printed books in Local, History of the Book and PG Ref. Owing to the complexities of moving around 5,000 metres of material it is essential that you contact us well in advance on 0191 3342972 or pg.library@durham.ac.uk in order to avoid delays in gaining access to this research material.
The collections will be returned to Palace Green Library in the winter of 2013 and then the newly refurbished Barker Reading Room will open in the Pace Building providing access to Archives and Special Collections material in an upgraded research library.
Please keep checking the website for details.
This only affects the Palace Green site and not 5 The College. The exhibitions at Palace Green Library will remain open as normal.