Materials held by the Local Studies Centre include: -
What Facilities does the Local Studies Centre have?
The Centre has microfilm and microfiche readers, as well as Internet
access, for public use. It also has a small study area, where
visitors can consult documents.
Church registers, census returns, cemetery records and newspapers
are available on microfilm. Various indexes are also available to help your search. Staff will
show new users how to use the readers and finding-aids.
Users can obtain copies of records on microfilm, by completing a request
form available from the helpdesk or by using the reader-printer. A photocopier is also available in
the Centre and all copying is subject to copyright regulations.
Members of staff are always pleased to give any reasonable guidance and
assistance to visitors, but are unable to undertake research on their
behalf.
Where can I find the Local Studies Centre?
The Local Studies Centre is situated on the first floor of the City
Library and Arts Centre, on Fawcett Street in the centre of
Sunderland. Visitors do not need to make an appointment unless they
wish to use a microfilm or microfiche reader.
Opening hours
| Monday
and Wednesday |
9.30am -
7.30pm |
| Tuesday,
Thursday, Friday |
9.30am -
5.00pm |
| Saturday |
9.30am -
4.00pm |
Address
Local Studies Centre
City Library & Arts Centre
Fawcett Street
Sunderland
SR1 1RE
Tel: 0191 514 8439
Email: local.studies@sunderland.gov.uk
Location
Map
Books
There are about 10,000 titles in the Local Collection. The books are for reference only but there is a lending collection in the
main library.
The great bulk of the books are not on the open shelves as many of them
are valuable or very rare and impossible to replace. The computer
catalogue can be used to find any of the books in stock and they will be
brought out for use in the library.
Newspapers
Copies of the local papers from 1831 onwards are available on
microfilm. We have the Sunderland Echo from 1873 to date and we also
keep some Seaham papers, the Seaham Observer 1858 - 1870 and the Seaham
Weekly News 1860 - 1938. If you need to use the newspapers it is
advisable to book a microfilm reader before you arrive as there is a heavy
demand for them, a day or two's notice is all we require. The
Sunderland newspapers have been indexed.
Maps
We have a large collection of maps which date from 1723, the biggest
section of the map collection being the Ordnance Survey maps. We
have all the O.S. maps of the City from the 1st edition of 1855
to the latest printed editions - also available are the 6-inch to the mile
maps of County Durham. There are geological maps of the area and
some specialised plans, for example the Admiralty Charts of the local
coastline.
Trade Directories
Although not complete, this collection dates from the 1820s to the
early 1960s.
Lloyds Shipping Registers
The collection includes Lloyds Registers of Shipping from 1816 to
date, which is complete from 1874 onwards, and Lloyds Wreck Registers
from 1890.
Archive Materials
Tyne and Wear Archives was set up in 1974, all archives held locally
were transferred to their care and since then all archives have gone to
TWAS. Their catalogue of documentation is available at
 http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk
Durham County Record Office also holds materials for Sunderland.
Their catalogue of documentation is available at
http://www.durham.gov.uk/recordoffice/
Registrars
Sunderland Registrars hold records of births, deaths and marriages
which have taken place in Sunderland dating back to 1st July 1837 and can
issue copies of those records (certificates). They have begun to digitise
their collection and it can be searched on www.sunderland.gov.uk/pages/registrars
Tracing your Family
History in Sunderland Libraries
Local History Groups at
Sunderland Public Libraries
Local Heritage
Strategy Project
Community Libraries
Libraries Home Page
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