Stafford Library Research Resources

Stafford Library, located in Staffordshire Place, offers a comprehensive suite of tools, collections, and digital services tailored for academic, genealogical, and local history researchers. Visitors have access to extensive local studies collections, microfilm archives of historic regional newspapers, premium genealogical subscription databases, free portals to peer-reviewed academic journals, and modern study facilities supported by knowledgeable staff.

Local Studies and Regional Archives

The library houses a dedicated local studies collection documenting the social, industrial, and topographical history of Stafford and the wider county. Researchers can consult historical maps, Ordnance Survey plans, municipal records, trade directories (such as Kelly's and Pigot's), and published works by local authors. The collection also includes printed parish registers, monumental inscriptions, and ephemera covering historic Staffordshire parishes.

Microfilm and Historic Newspapers

For primary source research, the library maintains microfilm and microfiche collections of regional newspapers, including historic runs of the Staffordshire Advertiser and the Staffordshire Newsletter. Dedicated microfilm readers and viewer-scanners allow researchers to browse, digitize, and print articles covering centuries of local events, public notices, and obituaries. Census returns and church records for the area are also available on microform.

Online Databases and Family History Resources

Researchers visiting the library can use public computers or the library Wi-Fi to access premium online databases for free, including:

• Ancestry Library Edition and Findmypast: Providing searchable access to national censuses, military service papers, immigration logs, and vital civil registration records.
• The British Newspaper Archive: Offering millions of digitized, fully searchable pages from historical UK and Irish publications.
• Access to Research: A portal delivering free digital access to millions of academic articles, scientific papers, and scholarly journals that are typically locked behind institutional paywalls.
• General Reference Subscriptions: Including Oxford Dictionaries, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.

Study Facilities and Hardware

The library provides quiet study areas equipped with study carrels, power outlets for laptops, and public computer terminals with internet access. Researchers have access to networked printing, document scanning, and photocopying facilities to duplicate source material within standard copyright regulations.

Connection to County Archives

While Stafford Library handles a significant array of published and digitized materials, it also works closely with the Staffordshire Archives and Heritage Service. Researchers requiring access to unique, original manuscripts, deed collections, or the historic William Salt Library collections can receive guidance from library staff on coordinating visits and record requests with the nearby Staffordshire History Centre.