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21/7/2010 - New opening hours for Barrow archive and local studies service

People interested in tracking down their family history and learning more about their local area are going to be able to swot up at the weekend once a month thanks to a change in opening hours at Barrow's record office and local studies library.

The office on Duke Street will open on the first Saturday of every month from August 7th in a change that has been designed to provide a better, more used service to the public. The full archive service will be available from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm on the Saturday, rather than the previous service of offering local studies only every Saturday.

Analysis of people using the local studies service on Saturdays showed extremely low visitor numbers, but it is hoped that by offering a full archive and local studies service - albeit less frequently - that user numbers will increase. The number of people interested in tracking down their family histories has increased greatly in recent years, thanks to the popularity of TV programmes such as 'Who do you think you are?'.

The local studies evening service previously offered on a Monday evening will move to a Wednesday evening, after visitor numbers showed low usage on Mondays. The office will close once a month on the Monday after the Saturday opening - so in August it will close on August 9th. 

The new opening hours bring Barrow into line with Cumbria's three other archive offices and will also save cash for Cumbrian taxpayers as it will be more efficient by £10,000 a year to run the service this way.

Even when Cumbria’s archive service is closed, the online catalogue can still be accessed on: www.cumbria.gov.uk/archives/Online_catalogues/default.asp 

New opening hours for Barrow record office and local studies library:

First week:

Saturday 7th August: 10am - 1pm and 2pm –4pm Monday 9th August: Closed Tuesday –Friday: 9.30am –1pm and 2pm - 5pm Wednesday evening: Local studies & searchroom sources only 5pm –7pm

Weeks 2, 3 & 4:

Monday: 9.30am –1pm and 2pm –5pm

Tuesday –Friday: 9.30am –1pm and 2pm –5pm Wednesday evenings: Local studies and searchroom sources only: 5pm –7pm

After then the office will be open on the following Saturdays: 

  • Sat 7th Aug
  • Sat 4th Sep
  • Sat 2nd Oct
  • Sat 6th Nov
  • Sat 4th Dec

It will be closed on the following Mondays:

  • Mon 9th Aug
  • Mon 6th Sep
  • Mon 4th Oct
  • Mon 8th Nov
  • Mon 6th Dec 

 

ENDS

Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 226332