- About
- Visiting
- What’s On
- Venue hire
- Catalogues
- Collections
- 101 Treasures of Chetham’s
- Digital Resources
- The Flowers of Histories
- A Book of Hours from France
- The Manchester Scrapbook
- Thomas Barritt of Manchester
- Art Treasures Examiner of 1857
- Manchester Association for Constitutional Order
- The North Western Museum of Science and Industry: Some Reminiscences by Richard Hills
- Criminal Manchester
- The Cup of Destiny
- Athenaeum Souvenir
- Middle English Manuscripts
- Manchester and Liverpool of Today
- Hollingworth’s Mancuniensis
- Memoir of Cecil Wray
- William Seward’s Diary
- The Anti-Monopolist
- Fishwick’s History of Rochdale
- Knyvett’s Defence of this Realm
- Tractatus de Nigromantia
- Axon Ballads
- Printed Books & Ephemera
- Archives & Manuscripts
- Prints and Photographs
- Blog
- Support us
About
Chetham’s Library was founded in 1653 and is the oldest public library in the English-speaking world. We are an independent charity and the vast collection that we care for has been designated as having national and international importance.
The Library began acquiring books in August 1655, and has been adding to the collections ever since. As well as early printed books, the collection includes ephemera, manuscript diaries, letters and deeds, prints, paintings and glass lantern slides.
The Library is also known for being the place where Marx and Engels met to discuss their revolutionary ideas that changed the world. It’s also where Dr. John Dee supposedly summoned the Devil! You will find lots of fascinating stories about the people who have been here on one of our tours.
We are committed to inspiring the next generation of thinkers and we do this by hosting events and tours and through conservation and research projects.
To visit the Library, please book here. Bookings must be made in advance of your visit. We are also open to readers by prior appointment. Please contact us as far in advance as possible to arrange a study visit.
