Learning Level

One of the oldest volumes in the library

Above the bustle of the main galleries is Enquiry - the Learning Level, centred around our existing learning rooms and historic library.

Here we are able to "dig deeper" - to pause for a while and find out more about the themes explored elsewhere in the museum.

As we arrive on the upper level we find a timeline about The History of Yorkshire along our balcony gallery. There is also an area to sit and relax and look down on the the Central Hall displays below.

Leading off the balcony, the two learning rooms, or "Labs", are dedicated to archaeology and science and are open for booking by school groups for workshops. When not occupied, ordinary visitors are able to examine objects close-up and explore further.

On the other side of the balcony gallery is the museum’s historic library, established by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society as part of the original building. Current members of the society have been working hard to help re-catalogue and re-organise the historic books in the library and interested visitors are able to make an appointment to look round it for the first time in its history.

Next door is our new reading room, where a selection of books from the library are available to browse through, with more seating available to sit quietly and read. Displays on the wall tell the story of the history of the museum and the Yorkshire Philosophical Society.