Entrance is free to the 11 family-friendly galleries exploring the natural world, the ancient world and world cultures. Across the road, the Hatton Gallery features collections of historic and modern art and a regular programme of contemporary and historic art exhibitions. The museum also offers an accessible resource centre (offsite - based at Discovery Museum) where visitors can access the reserve collections by appointment.

Other visitor facilities include two cafes, one of which looks out over the re-planted spacious gardens, two shops and a multi-purpose learning suite hosting a running programme of events and workshops.

Great North Museum Library

There are three main collections housed in the Library: the Library and Archives of the Natural History Society of Northumbria, the Library of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and Newcastle University’s Cowen Library.

Subject areas include natural history, with particular focus on the north of England, local history, ancient history and archaeology. The collections include a wide range of materials from introductory books to more specialist research monographs and journals.

The Cowen Library books and many of the books of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne have been catalogued onto Newcastle University’s Library catalogue: http://sparky.ncl.ac.uk/F

The Natural History Society of Northumbria’s catalogue can be searched by visiting the Library.

Rare books and archives
The archives of the Natural History Society of Northumbria are kept in the Great North Museum: Hancock Library together with special collections of early natural history books. To consult any rare or archival material please contact the Library to make an appointment with the archivist.

The archives of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne are held in the Local Studies Collection at Woodhorn, Northumberland.
http://www3.northumberland.gov.uk/catalogue/DServe.exe?dsqServer=w2k3calm1&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Index.tcl

August 2010 opening times

 2-13 August: Monday-Friday 1-4pm

16-27 August: Limited opening only:

Tuesday 17 August 1-4 pm

Thursday 19 August 1-4 pm

Tuesday 24 August 1-4 pm

Thursday 26 August 1-4 pm

The library will be closed for the summer bank holiday Monday 30 August.

Please contact the Library on 0191 222 3555 or email gnmlibrary@twmuseums.org.uk for further details.