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Our services: Libraries and site information: Bill Bryson Library

An overview of our libraries

Bill Bryson Library is our main University Library, and you will find a fantastic range of resources to support your studies. Library staff are always on hand to help you find your way around and answer your enquiries, and our Virtual Enquiry Desk is available to you during your time in the Library or when working offsite.

Opening Times and Contact Details

Opening times

  • 24/7 opening until Friday 2 June (including Easter weekend and all bank holidays in May)

Staffed services available:

  • Monday-Friday between 8am-10pm
  • Saturday-Sunday between 9am-10pm

Durham University Library  
Stockton Road  
DURHAM  
DH1 3LY  
United Kingdom  

Tel: +44 (0)191 334 3042
Fax: +44 (0)191 334 2971  

main.library@durham.ac.uk 

Using the Bill Bryson Library

Contact us through our enhanced virtual enquiry desk, Ask DULib. Search our FAQs, email us, or chat with a librarian. 
Ask DULib is available to all students, staff and users.

Ask DULib, Library Help

Keep up to date

Keep up to date by following our library social media accounts: 

           

 

Bill Bryson Library is on the Lower Mountjoy site on Stockton Road, across the road from Whitechurch and next door to the Palatine Centre.  Use the postcode DH1 3LY if using a SatNav or GPS.  
To access the Library, scan your Campus Card barcode on the access gates.  
There is no visitor car parking, except for disabled parking bays near the entrance. There are bike sheds available.  

The University welcomes the use of face coverings in shared indoor spaces on campus. Details of all our safety measures can be found on our Visiting our Buildings guide.

If you are feeling unwell, please stay at home and try to avoid contact with people. Please visit the University webpages for more details.

Access is on level ground via a power-assisted door. There are disabled parking bays near the main entrance, adjacent to the Geography building.
For more information on parking, please call 0191 334 6002 or email car.parking@durham.ac.uk prior to your visit. There is a card-operated accessible gate. There are two lifts available within the building.  

Please see our Accessibility and Support Guide for further information.

We have a mixture of bookable and non-bookable individual study spaces available at Bill Bryson Library - please see our Study Spaces Guide for full details.

Visit our website for details of IT and equipment available within the Library.

Lidded drinks and cold food are currently allowed on all levels of the Library. You can bring in reusable, lidded drink containers to have during your study time, which may be refilled using the water fountains.

Small Island Coffee is located on Level 2 of Bill Bryson Library and offers a range of sandwiches, salads, drinks and snacks. Please see Small Island Coffee webpages for current opening times.

Please remember to clean as you go during your time in the building and place all rubbish in the bins provided. 


Winter vacation opening times
  • Closes at 6pm on Friday 9 December.

Saturday 10 December - Wednesday 21 December:

  • Monday-Friday between 8.30am-4pm
  • Saturday-Sunday between 11am-3pm

Thursday 22 December:

  • 8.30am-2pm

Friday 23 December - Monday 2 January 2023:

  • Closed

Tuesday 3 January - Sunday 8 January:

  • Tuesday-Friday between 9am-3pm
  • Saturday and Sunday between 11am-3pm

Along with members of Durham University, we are also pleased to welcome external students, researchers and visitors to Bill Bryson Library.

For more information, visit our website.

Bill Bryson Library floor maps

Please review our floor maps to help you to:

  • see where resources for your subject are kept
  • see which study zones are bookable or non-bookable 
  • help you to find your pre-booked study space before you visit.

Available study spaces at Bill Bryson Library

How busy is Bill Bryson Library right now?

Find out how many free study spaces there currently are at the Bill Bryson Library by clicking the link above.

A view of Bill Bryson Library through trees