Founded in 995 AD, it is one of the largest English cathedral libraries.

William de St-Calais donated 46 books.

[1] In the 19th century it was located in the Old Frater House, or Monk's Hall, on the south side of the cathedral's cloisters, situated there in 1680 by the Dean of Durham John Sudbury, who fitted up the building.

[2] A copy of a manuscript describing the life of St Catherine of Alexandria was located in the library in the 12th century.

The papers of George Allan, Christopher Hunter, Joseph Barber Lightfoot, James Raine, Ian Ramsey, Thomas Randall, Sir Cuthbert Sharp, and Robert Surtees are also part of the collections.