Explore York Libraries and Archives Annual Review 2024-25 - Report - Page 4
Once upon a time in York…
In 2014, Explore York Libraries and Archives was born - not
just as a public service, but as a shared belief in the power of
libraries, archives, and what they can become together.
Independent and powered by purpose, Explore
grew into a different kind of organisation:
co-owned with its communities and alive with
possibility. Our libraries are spaces to read,
connect, learn and belong. Our archives are
the city’s collective memory – conserved with
care and brought to life through creativity. With
trusted spaces in every community, Explore is
a place people can begin from.
This review of 2024–25 celebrates the journey
so far – and where we need to go next.
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Explore Annual Review 2024/25
Ten years of belonging,
co-creation, and trust
From traditional public libraries and
archives service to an independent
cultural organisation, Explore’s journey
has always had people at its core –
shaping and sharing their stories together.
Explore exists because of people – and
for them. That’s the golden thread
running through every archive box, every
book, every event, and every moment
of connection. Ten years on, we’re still
growing, still creating together. We marked
our tenth year not with speeches, but
with shared joy. Live at the Library, Shush
Snip Rip, Black British Ballet, and History
Misbehaves were just a few highlights.
But these weren’t just events – they reflect
what Explore has become: a place for
celebration, for challenge, for creativity,
and for community.
