Sleaford Library (photo François Matarasso)
Sleaford Library (photo François Matarasso)
Short workshops to introduce participants to the wide range of local studies resources available through Lincolnshire County Council's Library Service and to demonstrate how these resources can be used and interpreted to gain an insight into the history of the locality.
All Lincolnshire County Council's public libraries have local studies collections, comprising books, pamphlets, news cuttings, journals and illustrations. There is an interest in the wider community to learn about local history but not always the knowledge of the libraries' holdings or skills to make best use of what there is.
service, to stimulate and direct the interest of participants, and to offer a level of expertise in using these resources that local library staff sometimes lacks.
Community Librarian Ruth Neller, who has a degree in Local and Regional History, bridges the gap by running free 90-120 minute workshops where she introduces participants to the range of materials available in their local library and shows how they can be used to explore a variety of local history themes.
‘Ruth certainly researches her subject thoroughly. Her workshops are always interesting, informative and most importantly entertaining’
She also draws the attention of participants to the collections of larger libraries and to the Lincolnshire Archives Office and various museums. Where there is sufficient interest, additional sessions can be arranged to deal in more depth with particular subjects or sources.
The workshops usually take place in library buildings, but they have also been delivered in a mobile library, in schools and in various community venues. As the workshops work best with a limited number of participants (usually no more than 12), they adapt well to the smallest of libraries, where it is sometimes difficult to run other events through lack of space.
Lincolnshire Library Service Case Study