Explore York Libraries and Archives

Formerly the City of York Libraries and Archives, we ‘spun out’ of the council on 1st May 2014 to become Explore Libraries and Archives Mutual Ltd (or Explore for short!). We are a type of mutual called an industrial and provident society, with charitable status. In March 2019 we were awarded a further 15 year contract by City of York Council, to deliver services until 2034.

The organisation is 1/3 owned by staff and 2/3 owned by members. For more information please see our website: www.exploreyork.org.uk

The archives were central to the handover ceremony at Rowntree Park Reading Cafe on 1st May. The oldest civic record, an early form of council tax roll from the 1280s was handed over from Cllr Sonia Crisp to the Explore Staff Director, Vicky Pierce.

Meet the team

The Archives and Local History specialist team is made up of a number of heritage professionals, supported by specialists elsewhere in the organisation, and by the Reading and Learning Advisors who staff our libraries and are able to help with your enquiries.

Click on the links below to see a post by each person. If you then click on their name or picture anywhere on the  site, such as on the yellow tab on the left hand side, you can see the posts they have written for this blog.

Archivist (Civic & Public Records) – Julie-Ann Vickers

Archivist (Communities and Digital Impact) – Holly Waughman

Archivist (Access, Inclusion and Engagement) – Chris Cassidy

Assistant Archivist – Georgie Myler

Archives and Digitisation Assistant – Becky Ahmed