Changes to popular local studies and archive service beckon before move to new home

There will be temporary changes to Oldham Council's Local Studies and Archives Service this winter, as it prepares to move to its new home in the redeveloped Spindles centre.

The current base at 84 Union Street will close to the public on November 30, 2023.

A new temporary home for the service will then open in March 2024 within Oldham Library, prior to the move to Spindles when the new permanent archives centre is created.

Moving to a new site is a huge task and council officers will have to reduce some archives services until this work is done.

Users of all Oldham libraries will still be able to enjoy free access to family history websites, including Ancestry and FindMyPast, as well as to census information from 1841 to 1921 online on public computers.

From March 2024 the council will be able to offer its popular Local Studies service in the main library, with access to newspapers on microfilm and a fantastic range of local history publications.

Staff will also restart the popular expert advice sessions for people researching their family history every Monday and Wednesday, from 2pm to 4pm, in the temporary home.

Councillor Peter Dean, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, said: “These are exciting times for Oldham Local Studies and Archives as the move to a permanent, state-of-the-art facility in Spindles draws closer.

“Residents will still be able to access elements of this popular service from its temporary home in Oldham Library until the new site is completed.

“The team is really looking forward to relaunching the service in its new home, and we will hopefully bring some new users with us, who have experienced the service for the first time while we’re in Oldham Library.”

The new archive is one of many new attractions being developed in the revamped Spindles.

When complete it will also include a new Tommyfield Market, events space, and co-working space for small businesses and council staff.

It will not be possible to provide access to archive collections at this temporary site in Oldham Library.

This means that access to physical archives will be paused from November 30.

As archives staff will be working to pack and catalogue the collections and prepare them for the move, access to the materials will also be restricted.

They will do their best to answer enquiries during this time.

To get in touch, contact: archives@oldham.gov.uk or call 0161 770 4654.

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