Great Ayton Discovery Centre

Information about Great Ayton Discovery Centre including contact details and services offered.

Great Ayton Discovery Centre
105b High Street
Great Ayton
Middlesbrough
TS9 6NB

Email: gadc-library@outlook.com
Telephone: 01642 723268

Discovery centre opening hours

  • Monday: closed
  • Tuesday: 10am to 4pm
  • Wednesday: 10am to 4pm
  • Thursday; 10am to 4pm
  • Friday:10am to 4pm
  • Saturday: 10am to 3pm the centre is open for Lego Club, craft sales and tourist information. There are no library services available. Please ring to check the centre is open before making a special trip.
  • Sunday: closed

Finding the discovery centre, parking and access

The discovery centre is on the High Street in the centre of the village, not far from High Green. A bus stop is a short distance away, which is served by Arriva bus services 28 and Coatham Connect services 18, plus the Abbott's bus service number X80. The train station is a 20-minute walk from the village.

There are few parking restrictions in the village and parking is free. A small car park is available to the rear of the discovery centre building and there are spaces directly in front of the centre. All areas of the discovery centre are accessible to wheelchairs.

Items available from the discovery centre

You can borrow a range of books for all ages in a variety of formats, including large print and audio. DVDs and foreign language titles are also available for loan. You can request any item that is not immediately available.

Information and facilities at the discovery centre 

  • family history
  • free online access to Ancestry.com, Find My Past, the British Newspaper Archive and Access to Research
  • free wi-fi
  • help and support using IT
  • internet and computer access
  • local studies
  • newspapers
  • photocopying, printing and scanning
  • tourist information - a wide range of guides, maps, souvenirs, travel information and tourist leaflets for Great Ayton and the surrounding area
  • recycling point for crisp packets, medicine blister packs, ink jet printer cartridges and postage stamps

Art gallery

The art gallery shows art and photography works, which are all for sale, and feature local artists with a focus on local landscapes.

Book sales

We sell second hand books at great prices, perfect for holiday reading; second hand books are gratefully received.

Crafts

We have an excellent selection of crafts for sale, from local crafters ranging from pottery to woodwork, from knitwear to jewellery.

Jigsaw library

The jigsaw library is available during normal opening hours. Jigsaws are available for adults and children and are typically loaned for three weeks.

Activities at the discovery centre

For further information about any of the activities below, please contact the library.

Book clubs

Book clubs are welcome to meet at the centre for a small fee; we currently host a book club which meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 2.30pm to 3.30pm.

Information technology taster sessions

Individual sessions introducing people to computers and the internet can be arranged.

Knit and knatter

The knit and knatter group meets on Thursday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm. Newcomers are always welcome.

LEGO Club

Saturday 1pm until 3pm (term time only) when the library is closed.

MIND Matters Project

Make new friends and take part in light-hearted quizzes and games. Every first Tuesday of the month. Drop in run by MIND in Hambleton and Richmondshire.

Rhymetime

Wednesday at 10:30am until 11:30am (term time only).

Room hire

Various parts of the centre can be hired for private use, both during and outside opening hours; details are available on request.

Social media

The Discovery Centre has a Facebook page advertising all events within the centre. You can follow North Yorkshire libraries on Library Service Twitter.

Volunteers

There are a number of opportunities to volunteer at the library. See the library volunteering page or ask at the library for further details.