Special edition of the Staffordshire Archives & Heritage Update

Staffordshire Archives and Heritage
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Coronavirus Update: Suspension of Staffordshire Archives and Heritage Service

As a response to the current situation regarding the Coronavirus, the County Council have agreed that Libraries & Arts and Archives & Heritage are non-critical services. As a result, it has been decided that Staffordshire’s Library Service and the Archives & Heritage Service will be suspended. Therefore, all public libraries, mobile libraries, the Staffordshire Record Office, the History Access Point and the William Salt Library will close from 00.01 on Monday, 23rd March until further notice.

This has been a very difficult decision, however, given the Government’s advice for the over-70s, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions to avoid non-essential social contact we believe this is the most sensible way forward for the public, library staff and the hundreds of people who volunteer. This decision supports the governments most recent advice to the public to implement social distancing and avoid group venues.

Staffordshire’s Library and Archive and Heritage staff will be redeployed as part of the county council’s commitment to keep vital services running. We will also maintain a remote enquiry service subject to available staffing resources. We are looking at ways in which we can engage with our users and maintain remote activities supporting our Staffordshire History Centre Project.

I know this is a worrying time and that we will all be thinking through what this means for our family and friends as well as our work life. Joanna Terry, Head of Archives and Heritage will ensure that you are kept updated during this period but if you have any immediate questions, please do not hesitate to contact her via e-mail joanna.terry@staffordshire.gov.uk


Staffordshire Library and Arts and Archives and Heritage Service Update

All Staffordshire libraries will close from 00.01 on Monday, 23rd March and the service will be suspended until further notice.
Staffordshire County Council’s online eBooks service is still running and available to all library service members.
Our library and archives and heritage staff who are able will be redeployed to support the county council’s commitment to keep vital services running.
Gill Heath, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Communities, said: “Libraries are traditionally a safe and welcoming place for people so we take this decision reluctantly.
“However, given the Government’s advice for the over-70s, the pregnant and those with underlying health conditions to avoid non-essential social contact we believe this is the most sensible way forward for the public, library staff and the hundreds of people who volunteer.”
All loans will automatically be extended until libraries reopen and no-one will face fines for late returns.
Last year the county council invested further in its eBooks service, resulting in an 80 per cent increase in stock.
Existing library members can download the BorrowBox app or visit its website at www.borrowbox.com and use their membership number and PIN to access what’s on offer.
New members can register online by going to www.staffordshire.gov.uk search ‘join library’ and follow the instructions, but are asked to be patient if many people are trying to enrol at the same time.
The BorrowBox system is used around the world, offers help to dyslexic and visually impaired readers and has an easy control system, including a snooze function for bedtime reading.
As well as the 43 libraries and Mobile Library Service, the closure also applies to the Staffordshire Record Office , Lichfield History Access Point and the William Salt Library in Stafford. If anyone has an urgent inquiry they can contact
staffordshire.record.office@staffordshire.gov.uk
Alternative access to some collections is available by:
• Using Staffordshire Past Track to explore photographs, images, maps and documents 
• Accessing Staffordshire parish registers, wills, and marriage bonds on Find My Past 


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