Library collection

The library of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society holds books on all aspects of Yorkshire’s history from prehistory to the present day including local history, social history, industrial history, heraldry, place-names, and architecture.

All the publications of the YAS are available to consult at Claremont including the Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, Record Series publications, Wakefield Court Rolls Series and Parish Register Section publications, YAS Occasional Papers, Yorkshire Archaeological Reports, and publications of all YAS Sections. The library collects publications from other counties and societies and publications relating to general historical and archaeological topics. The library holds the calendars of state papers, all Thoresby Society, Surtees Society, Harleian Society and Pipe Roll Society publications.

 

The Society subscribes to a large number of journals and newsletters including: Antiquaries Journal, Archaeologia Aeliana, British Archaeology, Church Monuments, Current World Archaeology, Industrial Archaeology News, Local Historian, Oxford Historical Society, Scottish Archaeological Journal, and Yorkshire Dialect Society Transactions.

The library contains a selection of prints, photographs and slides, Ordnance Survey maps and aerial photographs of Yorkshire places.

Also available in the library are family history resources including the International Genealogical Index and 1881 census returns on microfiche. The library also holds microfiche copies of parish registers for many churches and chapels in West Yorkshire, the GRO index (until 1930), and indexes to wills and the national probate calendar.

New additions to the library are detailed in Update which is sent to YAS members or available to visitors at Claremont.

Library Catalogues

The library catalogue can be consulted at Claremont either as a card catalogue or an electronic document, but it is not presently possible to search the catalogue on the internet. If you have an enquiry about whether the YAS has a copy of a particular book, please email or telephone the library within its opening hours.

Library borrowing rights

Most books and periodicals in the library are available for loan.

In order to comply with HMRC rules on Gift Aid borrowing rights are no longer included in membership subscriptions. Members may borrow up to 6 books at a time for a period of 3 months on payment of an annual fee of £1 to the librarian. Books not requested by another member can be renewed twice by telephone or in person. Please do not send borrowing fees along with membership fees.

Members of YAS Sections can borrow books donated by their section on payment of the £1 annual borrowing fee.