
Stockport Heritage and Archives library, currently housed at Central Library in the town centre, is set to move to the new library, community and education centre, Stockroom, currently being developed within the Merseyway Shopping Centre.
The move aims to help keep the collection protected and preserved thanks to new, purpose-built storage facilities that will keep historic items in great condition for generations of Stopfordians to enjoy. The move will also mean the service will also be able to gain a formal national accreditation for its collections.
The Stockroom development, backed by a government grant from the Future High Streets Fund, is set to bring an interactive learning and discovery centre to the heart of Stockport town centre, offering the opportunity for residents to learn new skills, practice arts and crafts, enjoy live music and performances, use free services, and benefit from cutting-edge learning and IT facilities. The building will massively increase the space available for books and bring library services to a more accessible space in the town centre to help reach more people.
Central Library will remain open for book borrowing and also as a hub for the borough’s Adult Education services, ensuring continued public access to this historic building.
During December, Stockport Council’s Heritage and Archives team will begin the work to ensure that the archived material is prepared and packaged safely in storage ready for the move to Stockroom. Key services will also continued to be offered, including online access to an extensive picture library.
Cllr Frankie Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport at Stockport Council, said:
“In Stockport we are lucky enough to have a really rich collection of historical documents which help to bring the history of the borough to life.
“It’s really important that these documents are stored and looked after correctly to help preserve them for future generations to enjoy.
“By moving the documents to Stockroom, residents will be able to access the Heritage and Archives library in a purpose built, state-of the art central location. The brand new facilities at Stockroom will help ensure conditions are the best they can be to help preservation and prevent decay.”