We want all children to experience the joy of reading for pleasure and get the benefits this gives by offering them the chance to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge for free.
Explore provides the public library service and City Archive for York. Our goal is to bring people together to share the joy of reading, explore ideas and lead fuller lives.
We formed in 2014 as a mutual society with charitable status, jointly owned by Explore staff and members of the community. The society was the first of its kind in the UK and its creation was led by its own staff. Since 2014 several other public libraries have adopted our model and we work closely with them to develop our knowledge and practice.
We are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority and are recognised as a charity by HMRC.
We are committed to improving the City Archive as well as keeping all York’s 14 libraries, two reading cafes and the mobile library open, with paid staff in every one. We are managed by a Chief Executive and a board of directors. We have a set of rules which set out what Explore was set up to do.
We have a contract with City of York council to run the public libraries and archives in York.
The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.