Archive Service Policies

Explore York Libraries and Archives Mutual Ltd (Explore) is contracted to manage the archive and local history collections of the City of York Council (CYC). This includes council records, public records, manorial and privately deposited records. We are an accredited service, collecting  archives relating to the City of York to ensure their preservation and to make them publicly accessible.

The Lord Chancellor has designated Explore (on behalf of CYC) as a Place of Deposit for local public records. We also hold manorial documents on behalf of the council, as designated by the Master of the Rolls and under the supervision of the Secretary of The National Archives: Historical Manuscripts Commission. Under the terms of the current contract, CYC has transferred all responsibilities relating to these acts to Explore until 2034.

CYC does not exercise delegated powers under the Parochial Registers and Records Measure, 1978 (as amended 1993). The Borthwick Institute for Archives at The University of York exercises these powers for Church of England parishes within the Deanery of York in the Diocese of York.

Explore’s Mission

Explore is a different kind of public service: a mutual owned by our staff and our community members.  We are dedicated to enhancing lives in York in our trusted spaces; providing library, archive, learning, and creative activities; reflecting and developing a lively, inclusive community.  We offer opportunities for people to read, meet, learn, imagine, create and belong.

The archives support these priorities by maintaining a permanent, publicly accessible, and representative record of the City of York and its people.  The collections we hold are an historical, educational, evidential, and creative resource. They act as a focus for promoting civic pride, community and individual identity, active citizenship, and belonging.