Find Us and Contact Information

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to providing efficient, effective and Best Value Services.

The Library Service Mission Statement is 'To provide an inclusive community based library service that gives all residents of Barnsley the opportunity to pursue their own recreational, educational and intellectual interests by providing a wide range of access to literature, information and learning materials in a variety of media.'

How To Find Us

We are located on the top floor of the Barnsley Central Library and our address is:

Barnsley Archives and Local Studies Department
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Barnsley Central Library
Shambles Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2JF
Location Map of Barnsley Central Library
Telephone: (01226) 773950
Fax: (01226) 773955
E-mail Archives@barnsley.gov.uk 

Archives and Local Studies Officer - Mr Paul Stebbing BA (Hons) MARM RMSA

Local Studies Librarian - Mr John Coldwell

Family History Advisor - Mrs Gillian Nixon

Archives and Local Studies Assistant - Mrs Wendy Hawkins

Archives and Local Studies Assistant - Mrs Joan Adams

Archives and Local Studies Assistant - Mr Daniel Marsden

 

What Do We Do?

• we collect and preserve historical records relating to the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley
• we collect published material on Barnsley and the rest of the County - particularly the Southern west Riding
• we make these records available for study by members of the public

What Do Our Collections Include?

The Archives Collection Includes:

• copies of parish registers
• records of local non-conformist chapels
• deeds
• wills
• estate papers
• records of societies, businesses, schools and local authorities
• local photographs and maps
• building control plans
• General Register Office National Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths

The Local Studies Collection Includes:

• books and pamphlets including theses or dissertations
• local newspapers (mainly on microfilm)
• census enumeration returns (microfilm or microfiche)
• the International Genealogical Index (IGI) for northern counties of England and Ireland
• other local publications
  - annual reports and newsletter of organisations
  - church magazines
  - council minutes
• ordnance survey and other maps of the local area

Who Can Use Our records?

Everyone is welcome to use our Searchroom to consult our records.

They are often used by people with a wide variety of interests, including:

• the research of local and family history
• house history
• school and college projects

Opening Hours

• Monday 9.30 am - 7.00 pm
• Tuesday  9.30 am - 5.30 pm
• Wednesday 9.30 am - 6.00 pm
• Thursday 9.30 am - 5.30 pm
• Friday 9.30 am - 5.30 pm
• Saturday 9.30 am - 1.00 pm

From July 21st 2008 we will be operating a lunchtime closure from 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm.

Access is available for all members of the public

Charges For Services

Everyone is welcome to use our Searchroom free of charge. You will have to pay for copying. A leaflet is available giving our photographic, reproduction and copyright fees or simply ask us for information on our charges when you contact us.

There are standard charges if copies are required. Fees and Charges applicable.

How Can You Help?

We are always interested to hear of any documents, maps, illustrations or photographs relating to the Borough which are of historical interest. We are prepared to offer advice on their preservation and can accept records gifts or loans. Please contact us for further information. You can also help us by adhering to the following rules:

• Readers are asked to handle documents with care and not mark them.
• Pencils only must be used.
• Only a notepad and/or loose paper is allowed into the Searchroom.
• No eating, drinking or smoking.
• All bags and coats to be left in the appropriate place.
• No documents can be requested within 15 minutes of closing on an evening and all material including microfiche and microfilm must be returned 5 minutes before closing.
• No photocopying to be done within 10 minutes of closing time.
• Archive items must only be looked at on the appropriate tables.

The Barnsley Archives and Local Studies Department Promise To:

• always have a member of staff available to help you when you visit our Department
• always answer your enquiries by letter or email within 10 working days or by telephone or in person within 5 working days
• produce your photocopies and reader printer copies within 5 working days
• produce your photographic and map copies within 4 weeks
• bring material in from our outstores for you to study within 2 weeks
• make any document available for you to research, or warn of any delays or restriction within 5 minutes
• take all steps possible to protect, preserve and conserve all documents deposited with us
• continue to work towards the standards for the care of all historic records laid down in British Standard 5454 and by the Royal commission on Historical Manuscripts
• provide you with indexes and catalogues and other forms of finding aids to help you identify the records you need for your research
• organise at least one exhibition every year
• continue our outreach programme by giving talks to local groups and having school classes visit the Department
• keep you advised of all the Department's activities through our Archives and Local Studies Notice Board and Newsletter
• we will check the Internet every 2 weeks for new useful websites and produce an information leaflet

We Welcome Your Comments

• on the information in these pages and how easy you found it to use
• on the services we provide

You can make your comments or complaints either by

• talking to a member of staff
• filling in one of our Comments or Suggestions forms
• filling in our Praise and Grumbles Book
• filling in an official 'Complaints Against the Council' form

The Archives and Local Studies Department has a User Representative Group. This Group consists of 10 members of the public who offer advice views and comments to the Archives and Local Studies Staff. This group has contributed to many of the improvements in the Department since it's formation in 1999. If you have any suggestions or wish to make a complaint without using the formal procedures you may contact Mr B Jepson 01226 219437 a member of this group

As well as allowing people to come and use the materials in the search room for their own research, there are also a number of services that the departments staff can provide to make your search easier. These are listed below. As holders of a Charter Mark award, our services are subject to the strict criteria set by the Charter Mark Judging Panel. Full details are available in the Further Information section of the site.

Advice on Subjects

The department has an enthusiastic and dedicated workforce, many of whom have areas of specialist knowledge. We will be happy to try our best to answer any questions put to us by members of the public, and also to give advice on how best to conduct research.

Postal Enquires

As well as putting queries to us in person, it is also possible for you to mail us with any questions, or research you would like us to carry out on your behalf. We will then post our findings back to you. However, please note that we are unable to carry out extended research

There is a charge of £1.00 for all postal enquiries plus the cost of any prints and return postage.

Orders from Outstores

Unfortunately, we simply do not have the space to store all our material at the Central Library. As a result, some of our collections reside at our outstores elsewhere in the district. Any materials requested that are stored at outstores have to be specially ordered. We make the relevant materials available to you within two weeks.

Booking Readers, etc.

Unfortunately, we only have a limited number of film and fiche readers available for public use, so it is advisable to ring ahead and reserve one for as long a period as you require.

Last modified on 16/10/2008