Individual visits to view the Library
Visitors wishing to see the Library and its historic buildings are normally welcome to call in without appointment during opening hours; please arrive before 4.00 p.m. Occasionally, however, it may not be possible to enter certain areas, or even to come in at all, so if you are planning to travel a distance, if you want to bring a group, or if your visit is of particular importance please make arrangements in advance.
Research and study
Use of the library is free, and no membership or reader's ticket is required. Readers and researchers do need a prior appointment made at least 24 hours in advance in order to consult Library material. Appointments may be made by email, phone, or letter, but please be sure to allow time for us to reply if email or letter are used. New readers should bring a letter of reference and some form of identification.
Location and Maps
This plan of the city centre shows the general location of Chetham's, and this detail of the surrounding streets (© Andrew Taylor, whom we thank for permission to display a detail of his Manchester City Centre map) shows how to negotiate the one-way systems and pedestrianised streets. Multimap provides an alternative commercial version (includes adverts - off our site). If you have arranged to drive to the Library, you should note that vehicles coming from Deansgate or the south have to go around the north side of the Arena via Victoria Street, Great Ducie Street, New Bridge Street and Cheetham Hill Road as the only vehicular route to the gatehouse is from Corporation Street via Todd Street.
Group study visits
If you would like to bring in a study group to work on any aspect of the Library's holdings, please contact us as far in advance as possible. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Visitors with disabilities
Access to the historic first-floor library is via a flight of eighteen stairs, and regrettably no lift can be installed. Wheelchair users and others unable to manage the stairs have full access to the collections by the use of ground floor study rooms; the shelves are not browsable by any reader, so those working from the ground floor enjoy equal access to the collections with those able to ascend. Please contact us in advance with details of your requirements.
Parking
Parking on site is available only to holders of disabled parking permits or similar recognised permits. There is a multi-storey car park at the nearby Manchester Evening News Arena, the entrance to which is on Trinity Way.