Library opening hours:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9.30am - 4.30pm

Additional opening:
Saturday 17 May 9am to 1pm

The library is also now open on Wednesdays until 6.00pm during Norwich Diocesan Minstry Course terms.

Forthcoming events
"Text and gloss": a series of talks and discussions in the library
Church history lectures by the Canon Librarian

Norwich Cathedral Library
Library Reception: Tel. 01603 218443
Email: Librarian
Address: Norwich Cathedral Library, 12 The Close, Norwich, NR1 4DH

Library catalogues:

Modern theological collection (OPAC)

Journal holdings

Other library catalogues

Reading lists
for the Cambridge Theological Federation and Diocesan Ministry Course (with ERMC)

Books recently added to the library's collections

Use of the library
Anyone is welcome to use the library on a reference-only basis.
Users will be asked to fill in a registration form (now available as a download)
and to provide a piece of identification, preferably with a photograph on it.
An annual fee of £12 will be payable for the right to borrow books from the modern theological collection.
Access to books in the Dean & Chapter's library will be reference-only and by appointment, and use of these books will be supervised by a member of library staff.

Special arrangements for students of the Cambridge Theological Federation, ERMC and Norwich Diocesan Ministry Course

Library reader regulations

The accommodation provided by the new library extension brings together a number of previously disparate collections, the two principal elements of which are the Modern Theological collection, and the Dean & Chapter's Library. Both collections continue to grow through purchase and gift.

Modern Theological collection
This is an amalgamation of two separate collections: the cathedral's Martin Kaye collection, and the library of the Lincoln Theological Institute, which was brought to Norwich Cathedral on long-term loan in February 2003. The amalgamated collection numbers around 30,000 volumes covering the middle range of theology and subscribes to about 30 theological periodicals, including The Scottish Journal of Theology, The Expository Times, Crucible, Modern Believing, Church Times and The Tablet. This makes Norwich Cathedral Library the largest theological collection in this part of East Anglia.

The Dean & Chapter's Library (Historic Collection)
The Dean & Chapter Library has existed for as long as The Cathedral, and now forms an immensely valuable collection of historic books.

Throughout his life, the founder, Herbert de Losinga, stressed the importance of a library to the monastic community, at his death he left a well-established collection. During the following centuries, the library expanded and played its part in the religious and cultural activities of the community and city, despite the occasional setbacks such as its near total destruction in the rioting of 1272.

The library barely survived the dissolution of the monastery and the depredations of the Puritans. Dean Prideaux laid the foundations of the present collection in 1681, since when it has enjoyed a steady growth both in size and importance. Today it contains works on theology, philosophy, science, history, poetry, travel, and many other subjects. The majority of the collection dates from before 1851, including a small number of pre-Dissolution volumes and a unique collection of Tracts and Pamphlets published in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. There is also an expanding collection of more recent books relating to the history of The Cathedral and its officials, and to its place in the wider history of the city, the county, and the diocese, as well as important works associated with the life of Nurse Edith Cavell.

The cathedral's archives have been deposited with the Norfolk Record Office (NRO), where they can be consulted; their catalogue can be consulted via the web.

Other collections housed in the Historic Library

The Runnett Library
This was the private collection of Brian Runnett, organist and master of choristers of Norwich Cathedral (1967-1970), given to the cathedral by his parents after his death in a road accident. It includes books about music and musical scores, being particularly strong in music for the organ.

Parish libraries
The Swaffham Parish Library, a collection of around 450 volumes from the sixteenth century onwards, was deposited in the Cathedral library in 1995, on permanent loan. Other parish libraries, deposited for safe-keeping with the Bishop's Committee on Books and Documents, are held by the cathedral, of which the libraries of the Norwich parishes of St Peter Mancroft and St Stephen's are in the Historic library.

Norwich Diocesan Association of Ringers (NDA)
Still owned by the NDA, the collection has been transferred to the custody
of Norwich Cathedral Library, improving access to this important collection
on bells and bellringing. NDA members should contact the Association
Librarian to arrange access. Non-members wishing to consult items from this
collection should initially contact the Cathedral Librarian.

Links: Norwich Diocesan Association of Ringers

Catalogues
The modern theological collection is available online; the Dean and Chapter Library is on card catalogue. Both catalogues are available for consultation in the Reading Room.

Other subject guides are available:

Architecture

Plants and gardening

Vestments

Multi-parish benefices

God, housing and the environment

Monasteries


Sermons preached at Norwich Cathedral
Printed copies of sermons from the last 30 years are held in Norwich Cathedral Library. The library collection includes other sermons, both published and unpublished, modern and historic, which can be identified through the catalogues in the library reading room. Some sermons preached recently in the cathedral are also available online.

Special arrangements for students of the Cambridge Theological Federation, ERMC, and Norwich Diocesan Ministry Course

Students may register with the library free of charge (please be prepared to provide evidence of status

The Cambridge Theological Federation Christian ethics module is taught in the library. The library is open for use of the collection on those Saturdays.

The library is open for use by the Diocesan Ministry Course on Wednesday evenings from 4.30pm onwards.