Libraries and Museums Department

Introduction

Minutes CL 1/1-2

Agenda papers CL 1/3

Index to Minutes CL 1/4/1

Reports to Committee CL 2

Accounts CL 3

General Correspondence - Files opened before 1964 CL 4/1

- Files opened 1964 - 1973 CL 4/2

- Files opened 1974 - CL 4/3

Correspondence re Particular Libraries - Sample CL 5

Personnel and Training CL 6

Photographs CL 7

Divisional Records CL 8

Miscellaneous CL 9

MACCLESFIELD LIBRARY CL 10

Publications - County Council CLX 1

Publications - Other CLX 2

Libraries

The Public Libraries Act of 1892 empowered the councils of boroughs, urban districts and rural parishes to establish libraries and this right, was extended to county councils by the Public Libraries Act of 1919. In Cheshire, the County Council established a Rural Libraries Scheme in 1922, with the aid of a £2,500 grant from the Carnegie Trustees, adopting the Public Libraries Act for "such parts of the Administrative County for Elementary Education as are not existing Library areas". A County Librarian - A.H.Gillgrass - was appointed and a Library headquarters in Chester was established, housing the Students' Library of books for study and serious reading. Boxes of books were sent out from the Chester Headquarters to schools which had agreed to establish School Library Centres, under the supervision of Head Teachers - 105 such centres had been established by the end of 1922, circulating 3,710 books. Such centres were intended for the use of local inhabitants and teachers were encouraged to volunteer to act as unpaid librarians.

By 1933, the book stock stood at 60,000 books and the issue statistics for 1932-33 reached 563,337. Twenty years later this figure had reached 2 million issues a year and, by 1965, it exceeded 5 million, from a book stock of 665,000 volumes.

Voluntary effort played an important part in the development of local library services, with the appointment of Honorary Local Librarians to service the Village Library Centres. The aim of these Centres was stated in the County Librarian's report of 1933 as to "aid solitary students in their investigations, and provide relaxation and refreshment for every class of population".

A mobile library service was introduced in 1962, serving villages within a 20 mile radius of Chester.

A special small additional rate could be levied in urban districts to provide premises and pay the salary of a librarian - Cheadle and Gatley were the first to take advantage of this facility - however, not all followed suit, leading to considerable variation in library services between one district and another. When this special library-rate was abolished in 1964 and replaced by a general county library rate, the planning of a comprehensive service became possible for the first time.

At first, the Library service came under the jurisdiction of the Education Committee, which established a County Libraries Sub-Committee [oab]see CCC1/2/15[cab] for the purpose.

The Public Libraries and Museums Act of 1964 required County and County borough councils, as library authorities, to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service, free of charge, and empowered them to establish museums and art galleries. In 1965, a Library Committee [oab]CCC1/8/1[cab] was established, to take over responsibility from the Education Committee. It established 9 Area Library Committees to advise it on local needs. Its duties were inherited by the Library and Arts Committee [oab]CCC1/8/4[cab], established in 1973, which also became responsible for the County Record Office; grants to the arts and community facilities. In 1981, it was merged with the Countryside and Reacreation Committee in 1981, to form the Libraries and Countryside Committee.