Local & Family History
Finding out about your locality and how people lived in the past can be both fascinating and rewarding. If you want to discover your family history, or you are interested in uncovering the past, libraries have many resources to help you.
Libraries in larger villages and towns have a wider selection of books and information including many specialist and unique materials.
The amount and range of materials varies at each library, so do check before making a special journey, by telephoning the library. Each collection has many items that can be borrowed on a library ticket, but some items are for reference only.
The
Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, which houses the largest collection in the County, is located at Wigston Magna, and all items held there are for reference only.
Major collections are available at the following libraries
The major collection in
Leicester Libraries is the Central Learning and and Information (Ref) Library
Staff are available to advise on
our resource materials and explain how you can make the most of our specialist items, files and indexes.
Whatever your enquiry or study don't hesitate to ask! Due to the nature of many
local studies materials, they may not always be on display on library shelves.
All larger libraries have a coin-operated photocopying machine and some have a reader printer service for
microfilm and
microfiche. Please ask staff for details and costs.
...and how you can help us
We are keen to improve and expand our local studies collections, and we act as a depositary for memorabilia.
We welcome donations of items which record the life and history of Leicestershire and its people and we are always interested to hear of any items you come across or have produced yourself. This will ensure that the collections continue to expand, and present day life becomes tomorrow's local history.
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