The research library is situated on the second floor of the building and is accessible to visitors during the Centre's opening times. The second floor also houses the archive stores ensuring all of the Centre's archival materials are located on the same floor.
The research library currently has a selection of information files and newspaper cuttings that are split into various subject areas including schools, villages, industries and birth, deaths and marriages. There are also two feature book cases that store information on two local Gainsborough firms - Marshall's and Roses. The library has approximately 20 folders with details of obituaries and wedding notices from the Gainsborough News with approximately 700 folders in the complete library full of archival material. Approximately 100 folders include details of the streets, residents and businesses within Gainsborough. To find out more information about the Centre's newspaper archive click here...
The research library has an accessible photographic archive, oral history archive, and People's database to assist in searching the library's newspaper articles and additional content.
The library also contains the below records:
- Burials and cemeteries within Gainsborough such as Parish records, photos and records of headstones from North Warren Cemetery.
- 3,000 apprenticeship indentures for Marshall's.
- Approximately 8,000 original personnel record cards for Marshall's.
- Original registers for the Gainsborough Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers - Predecessor of AEU 1919 - 1940s. There are several thousand men and women recorded in the above records.
- Trade Directories for Gainsborough including Whites, Kellys, Pigots, Cookes and Caldicotts. The archives also hold the first ever Caldicot directory to be printed in Gainsborough from 1882.
There is always a dedicated member of staff available in the research library to offer assistance with using the research library, resources and accessing other items within the stores that are accessible for research purposes.
The Centre is in the process of digitising and preserving documents and items that are stored within the archive stores to ensure that these documents and items are accessible to visitors and to preserve original documents from being handled continuously .
It is important to note that the Centre has a charge for copies of information at £1 per A4 page of black and white photocopy. The Centre does not allow the photographing of any of the items in the folders by a camera or phone due to copyright issues. If you wish to obtain copies then please ask a member of staff to purchase a photocopy. This is essential element of fundraising for the Centre in order to help funds towards the digitisation and preservation projects of the archival materials.
However, please be aware that certain documents/items within the archive stores cannot be copied.
- For example, items of a rare nature cannot be handled because as part of preserving the items, we would not like to encounter damage through mishandling of any items.
- Items of a fragile nature are never publicly handled as this can cause dramatic deterioration of an item due to natural oils secreted from fingertips.
- The damage caused by photocopying fragile papers can be detrimental and the Archive department takes measures to ensure that documents are well cared for in accordance with Museum standards.
- Some documents and photographs have been donated and they have declared that copies should not be taken so the Centre abides by donator's wishes at all times.
Archive stores A and B house archival material which are either too large to be in the research area or are part of the vast objects collection used in the Centre's exhibitions. Please note the Centre does not allow public access to the Archive Stores for reasons of public safety.