Explore York Libraries from Home

Explore provides the public library and archives service for the city of York. Last year Explore York Libraries and Archives had over 1 million visitors, held 1466 events, told 1734 stories to children, and loaned more than 2000 books every day. Holding over 850 years of civic records, the City Archives are the most complete outside London. Explore enables people to live fuller, more connected and engaged lives, by giving everyone access to knowledge and ideas in safe, friendly spaces accessible to all. Explore was born in 2014 as a community benefit society with charitable status, owned by its staff and community members, and recognised nationally for its innovative approach. In 2019 Explore won a fifteen year contract to deliver libraries and archives for City of York council.

Now that frontline library services are in temporary suspension, it is gratifying to know that you needn’t be confused or overwhelmed by the huge amount of information currently on offer. York Explore are making it much easier for people to access information and advice as well as inspiration as we all deal with the coronavirus crisis.

Explore website has many useful links to help people cope during the coming weeks: some sites have always been part of our online mandate, whilst others are brand new.

Developing some online activities of their own - including a Virtual Book Group, Explore will be updating the website regularly as these new events appear on stream, and will be sharing the information on social media using #LibrariesFromHome. These pages of interest will include:


Updates on how Explore is responding during the pandemic and updates about what’s new:
https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/coronavirus/

Information and support during the Coronavirus crisis from official sources: https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/recommended-websites/coronavirus-resources/

5000 Ebooks and audio books for adults and children free to borrow from the online library: https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/digital/e-books/

Visit the new York Images site and explore the history of the city through photographs, illustrations, maps and archival documents:https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/digital/york-images/

Start your family tree using Ancestry and Find My Past. The library editions are both now free to use from home: https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/digital/online-reference/

Find reliable information about everything on the Online Reference pages. https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/digital/online-reference/



All information is free to access; all you need is a library card. You can get a card online and start using it immediately.

https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/getting-a-library-card-or-yorkcard/

Explore main website: www.exploreyork.org.uk

Facebook: Explore York Libraries and Archives. Twitter: @YorkLibrariesUK