17/03/2014 - Permalink

We want to hear from you about the future opening hours of Shropshire Archives

Related topics: Leisure, culture and heritage

Shropshire Council is asking for people’s views on the opening hours of its Shropshire Archives service, based at Castle Gates in Shrewsbury. 

The way in which people use this service is changing and, in recent years, the number of visitors to Shropshire Archives has gradually declined.  The current opening on Thursday evenings is generally not well used.  Also Saturdays vary in use, but most users do not stay for the whole day. 

This, as well as the council’s ongoing budget pressures, has meant that it is now proposing three options for opening the service 20 hours a week, a reduction from the current 30 hours, with an additional opportunity for people to suggest a different pattern of opening hours.  The closing date for comments is Sunday 23 March 2014.  

These changes will ensure that the service can continue alongside other essential behind-the-scenes cataloguing and conservation work, which supports public access to archives. 

An enquiry service will continue to be maintained from Tuesdays to Fridays. 

Local History Centres, housed in a number of libraries and other venues across the county, will also continue to provide access to their local and family history resources. 

Tina Woodward, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member responsible for visitor economy, said:

“We hope that customers of Shropshire Archives and the public will give us their views on the proposed changes.  We think we have come up with three reasonable options, but would be delighted if other workable options come forward during the consultation.” 

A final decision on the options following the consultation will be made by Steve Charmley,  Cabinet member for business growth, at a decision-making session. 

Shropshire Archives will need to be closed for two weeks from Sunday 30 March 2014 to Tuesday 15 April 2014, with the agreed opening hours then being implemented. 

The closure period will allow staff to work on a move of archives, records and museums artefacts to a newly-refurbished storage area, and also to complete essential staff training following the restructure. 

For further information call 01743 255350, email archives@shropshire.gov.uk, or visit www.shropshirearchives.org.uk. 

Further information

Shropshire Archives’ current opening hours are:

  • Sundays to Tuesdays inclusive: closed
  • Wednesdays: 10am to 5pm
  • Thursdays: 10am to 8pm
  • Fridays: 10am to 5pm
  • Saturdays: 10am to 4pm

The options in full are as follows:

Option A

  • Sundays to Tuesdays inclusive: closed
  • Wednesdays: 10am to 4pm
  • Thursdays: 10am to 4pm
  • Fridays: 10am to 4pm
  • Saturdays (first in two): 10am to 2pm
  • Saturdays (second in two): closed.

Total:  20 hours, with limited library service from 2pm.

Option B 

  • Saturdays to Tuesdays inclusive: closed
  • Wednesdays: 10am to 4pm
  • Thursdays: 10am to 6pm
  • Fridays: 10am to 4pm

Total: 20 hours, with limited library service from 2pm.

Option C

Service closed one week a month, with access to archive material during opening hours.

Option D

Please give us your suggestion based on opening 20 hours a week.