Lichfield Record Office could close as part of changes to the way Staffordshire’s archives are handled.
Staffordshire County Council is exploring plans to centralise the region’s Records Service and the William Salt Library Collections.
As part of this, Lichfield Record Office would close and be replaced by a “local and family history centre” where visitors could “access digitised collections and microfiche sources alongside the local studies collection within Lichfield Library”.
Consultation documents show problems with an ageing air conditioning unit and an increase in digitised records are being blamed for the decision to consider closing the city’s Record Office.
Cllr Mike Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Children, Community and Localism with Staffordshire County Council, said: “We are very proud of our heritage here in Staffordshire and we want to encourage more people to enjoy our fascinating archives collections which are designated by the Arts Council as being of outstanding quality and significance.
“Bringing together the county’s collections from our three Records Offices onto one modern site will allow us to improve the services we provide to visitors.
“Our latest project with the website findmypast will also see are records available online later in the year, giving more people access to our archives at a time and place convenient to them.
“We are keen to hear what people think about the plans and I would urge people to have their say. We also plan to make an application for a National Lottery Heritage fund grant to do the work.”
Consultation on the proposals will run until January 31 and includes a survey at www.staffordshire.gov.uk and drop in sessions:
- January 13 from 10am to 7PM at Staffordshire Record Office
- January 13 2014 from 2pm to 7PM at Lichfield Library
- January 17 2014 from 10am to 1PM at Lichfield Library
