Bishop Auckland Library

Opening hours

• Monday: 10.00am - 6.00pm
• Tuesday: 10.00am - 5.00pm
• Wednesday: 10.00am - 1.00pm
• Thursday: 10.00am - 6.00pm
• Friday: 10.00am - 5.00pm
• Saturday: 9.30am - 12.30pm
• Public holidays: closed

For unexpected closures, please see our disruptions, closures and warnings page. 

Events and activities 

Services available at our library

If you would like to browse our catalogue, request an item or renew an item already on loan, please visit Library Online. This facility also offers members of the library service access to a range of websites including Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Grove Music Online and Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.  

• books, including large print and picture books, audiobooks and reference books
• HealthZones
• information leaflets
• language courses
• music scores
• newspapers
• public access computers with internet, word processing and other Office packages facilities.
• Wi-fi (free)
• colour photocopier
• colour printer
• fax
• scanner
• ancestry online
• study area

Council tax and housing benefits surgery

A customer surgery is available in the library on Thursdays between 10.00am and 5.00pm and on Fridays between 10.00am and 4.30pm for residents who would like to see someone about council tax or housing benefits. This is on an appointment basis. Please contact our Customer Services to make an appointment.

How to get there

The library is on the ground floor of Bishop Auckland Town Hall - a French chateau-style building in the middle of the market place next-door to St Anne's Church.

The nearest bus stops are to the left of the front entrance, round the corner of the church and by the Job Centre on the other side of the market place. All other bus services through the town operate from the bus station behind the Newgate Centre, just four minutes walk away down Newgate Street.

There are a few free car parking spaces for drivers to the left of the church. During market days these are reserved for market traders. The nearest pay car park is in North Bondgate, a two-minute walk away.

Cycle parking facilities - there are currently no cycle parking facilities available at this library. The nearest facilities are 50 meters away in the Market Place.