University Libraries

Durham University Library offers a fantastic range of resources and study facilities across our four libraries in Durham City and Queen’s Campus library. The Library is here to help you find the academic sources you need and support you in making the best use of them.

The Bill Bryson Library in Durham City is the largest of our libraries and provides resources for all of the subjects studied at Durham University. The Bill Bryson Library has recently undergone a major refurbishment, creating a light, spacious study environment and enhancing our computer rooms and study areas. In 2012, the Bill Bryson Library’s East Wing extension opened, offering an additional 500 study spaces over four floors, as well as lots of study rooms for individual and group work.

We have also created two new group study rooms at the Leazes Road Library in the School of Education. Specialist collections to support our economics, finance and business programmes are also available at the Business School Library. If you are studying at Stockton, Queen’s Campus Library is open seven days a week and all of our libraries open late into the evening during term-time so that you have access to the resources and study spaces you need, when you need them. Durham's online learning environment, duo, provides access to a variety of core reading materials tailored to your modules, such as digitised book chapters and journal articles. Whichever location you study at, you have access to our full collection as we transfer books between our Durham City and Queen’s Campus libraries on a daily basis. Wi-Fi access is available throughout all of our libraries and our popular IT facilities include networked PCs, netbooks and laptops.

And of course, there are our friendly staff too! When you start your course, you will meet the Liaison Librarian for your department at your library induction session. You can contact them throughout your time at the University for advice and support on using subject-specific resources. If you are studying in the Library, staff at our Help and Information desks will be on hand to help you with accessing Library services and facilities.

Heritage collections

Archives and Special Collections

Located on the World Heritage Site close to Durham Cathedral, Palace Green Library offers a dedicated space where you can study our many rare and internationally renowned archives, manuscripts and early printed books. All of the collections will be available for you to explore throughout your time at Durham University to support your studies and research.

Palace Green Library exhibitions

Following significant investment, new Heritage Collections galleries have opened at Palace Green Library, showcasing treasures from the University’s collections. Bishop Cosin’s 17th-century library at Palace Green has also undergone conservation and is open to all gallery visitors. Entrance to the Palace Green galleries is free for all Durham University students.