- 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
Your visit
We love welcoming visitors and researchers to the Library to explore the stunning medieval building and get to know the collection we care for. Find out how you can get involved.
Please note that we are on the same site as Chetham’s School of Music, and therefore all visitor access is via the pre-booked tours and events.
Tours
To visit the Library, please pre-book a guided tour via our What’s On page. Tickets are available to purchase up to 6 weeks in advance. Make sure you read our Visitor Information before booking your tour. Every ticket sale and donation made supports the Library and its mission to inspire the next generation of thinkers. This is done through conservation and research projects and a programme of fascinating events for visitors. Don’t forget that choosing Gift Aid Admission allows the Library to reclaim tax on the whole amount paid on your ticket – that’s an extra 25%.
For private tours, please contact our Visitor Services Coordinator. Please note that as the public tours go on sale 6 weeks in advance, we require as much notice as possible in order to schedule private tours around them.
Please note: the Library is closed on public holidays, and between Christmas and New Year.
Readers
Our collection is designated as having national and international importance and is used by researchers from all over the world. We’re open to readers Monday to Friday 9am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4.30pm by appointment. If you discover material you’d like to see, please contact us by email or call 0161 834 7961 to make an appointment, which should be made as far in advance as possible. You can also explore the collections via our online catalogues. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer desk space to readers who are not consulting Library material. New readers may be asked to provide ID or a letter of reference.
Group study visits
We are sometimes able to accommodate larger study groups who want to access the Library to read, research, or work on aspects of the collection. Please contact us at least one month in advance of your requested visit with your proposal. Please be aware that depending on circumstances, we may need to charge for arrangements of this kind.
