The printed books comprise 519 titles in 796 copies. The bulk are 16th-18th century books from the convent libraries at Aire-sur-la-Lys and Rouen with a few from the communities at Gravelines and Dunkirk. There are Bibles, liturgy, scripturalcommentaries and books on the rule of Saint Clare, predominantly in Latin and English, as well as a large body of devotional literature in French on religious life and prayer. There are a small number of early 19th century textbooks from the ScortonHall convent school and some liturgical works from after the Poor Clares arrival in Darlington in 1857.
A particular feature of the collection is the large number of ephemeral items such as prayer cards and religious images found loose within the books. In some cases these represent two centuries of devotional activity.
The 74 manuscripts date from the mid 17th to the 20th century, about half being from the first half of the 18th century and in English, but with some items in French and Latin. The majority of items are meditations and devotions, on Scripture,the Passion and the Blessed Sacrament. Litanies are widely copied and there are English verse translations of Latin hymns as well as original verses. Franciscan material includes commentaries on the Rule, ceremonies, one liturgical volume andtranslations of and by Franciscan authors, including the nuns.