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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

From Saturday 3 June to Sunday 29 October:

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

From Monday 30 October:

  • 24/7 opening until Friday 8 December

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 

Ask Us

Ask Us

You can get in touch through our live chat service or by email, and search our FAQs for answers to your questions.

Ask us anything about Library and Collections

Social Media

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.  
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 and group study spaces available at Bill Bryson Library with collaborative, quiet and silent study zones - please see our Study Spaces Guide for full details.

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

Lidded hot and cold soft 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. Please don’t eat in our silent study zones out of consideration to others.

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. 

The University welcomes the use of face coverings in shared indoor spaces on campus. If you are feeling unwell, please stay at home and try to avoid contact with people. Please visit the University webpages for more details.

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 Bill Bryson Library by clicking the link above.

A view of Bill Bryson Library through trees