Cultural & Library Services

This division includes:

Staffordshire Library and Information Services
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Joint Archives Service
Staffordshire Arts & Museums
Staffordshire Performing Arts

Staffordshire Library and Information Services

All local authorities have a statutory duty to provide a library service for everyone who lives, works or studies within the authority. In Staffordshire, services are provided through 44 static libraries, 10 mobile libraries and 2 Travelling Libraries; one Schools Library Service mobile; and on-line.

Visiting a library is the fifth most popular pastime in the UK after visiting a pub, eating in a restaurant, driving for pleasure and eating in a fast-food outlet.

Library and Information Services provide a gateway to information, learning and entertainment, with access to books, talking books, computers, music and films. Modern libraries are convenient and enjoyable places to visit; light, bright, often with shop fronts, comfortable seating and refreshment areas.

Over 450 public access pc's offer free Internet access; bookstock is constantly refreshed and updated; and a wide selection of CD's, DVD's, language courses and other services are available.

Libraries are organised into eight Districts corresponding with District Council boundaries. These are Cannock; East Staffs; Lichfield; Newcastle; South Staffs; Stafford; Staffordshire Moorlands and Tamworth.

Some libraries share premises with partners: one-stop shops offer a variety of local authority services under one roof; joint use libraries in schools offer services to local communities and schools. The Partnership with Adult and Community Learning enables activities in libraries during Adult and Family Learning weeks.

We are committed to continually reviewing and developing services to meet the needs of our customers.

Further information is at our library service website.

Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Joint Archives Service

The Archive Service ensures access to the vast amount of information contained within the records it holds, over 6,500 individual collections of archives (nearly seven miles of records) and holds in trust a collective memory of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent's history, culture and identity
The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service is located at: the Staffordshire (County) Record Office, Eastgate Street, Stafford; the Lichfield Record Office, The Friary, Lichfield; and Stoke on Trent City Archives, City Central Library, Bethesda Street, Hanley. Overall the service provides a total of 106 opening hours per week. Over 20,000 people a year visit the Archive Service from all over the country and overseas to use archives for learning, leisure, enjoyment and many practical purposes. In addition we deal with over 24,000 enquiries annually. There is also an ongoing and active learning and outreach programme of talks, group visits to the Service, courses and events, exhibitions and publications
The William Salt Library in Stafford, the major local history library in the County, is an independent library, run in close conjunction with the Archive Service. Its manuscript, printed and graphic collections represent an outstanding resource for the study of local history in the County
The Archive Service meets the Charter Mark Standard for excellence in public service and in 2007 was rated by The National Archives as a three star (top level) service placing it the top 10% of local authority archive services in England and Wales
We provide dynamic information online about the collections which we hold.

Visit the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service web pages or the Archives Online catalogue

Staffordshire Arts & Museums Service

Manages the County art and museum collection and promoting access
Supports formal and informal learning - teachers resources, web-based learning, hands-on activities, workshops; identifications, research requests, information databases etc
Promotes the contemporary visual arts and craft through the Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford; touring projects and through work with organisations and artists across Staffordshire
Arts development - promotes participation in the arts; projects and initiatives tackling issues through the arts; supporting artists and art-form development
Outreach - takes services out to people across the County and developing new audiences i.e. talks, touring exhibitions and loans
Grants to the arts - supports the New Vic Theatre, Live and Local and local arts activities and projects
Supports the Shugborough Estate in the development of the Museum and Farm and in the interpretation of the Estate
Supports county-wide networking and strategic development - Staffordshire Museums Network; Staffordshire Arts Development Officers Forum ; county-wide development projects; curatorial advice

Visit the Arts & Museum Service web pages

Staffordshire Performing Arts (SPA)

Staffordshire Performing Arts (SPA) is a fully traded service, selling its services principally to schools. It teaches over 24,000 children and young people in 350 schools each week. There are 14,000 on the instrumental teaching programme including 2,000 pupils on SPA's new "K2M" (Key to Music) scheme introduced in 85 primary schools for the first time this year, to enable wider opportunities for Key Stage 2 pupils to participate in high quality music making. There are a further 10000 pupils on the music and dance curriculum programmes.

SPA organises over 80 youth bands, choirs, orchestras and ensembles in seven Performing Arts Centres across the county that meet during evenings and weekends and are attended by over 2,000 young people every week. In addition there are regional music ensembles and the County Music School.

SPA organises over 100 performances and events each year including many concerts at Christmas and other times of the year. Highlights include "Staffordshire Sings" - a huge concert at Birmingham's Symphony Hall featuring singers aged 7-70 from all over the county, "Staffordshire Rocks" a festival for young rock bands, "Staffordshire Pop Stars" and "Staffordshire Young Musician of the Year".

SPA works in partnership with the New Vic Theatre, Sound it Out Community Music and the Manchester Camerata and is the lead partner of "Make Some Noise" - the Youth Music Action Zone for Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent. The zone organises many evening and weekend activities for young people, especially those who are disadvantaged, including those who are disaffected or at risk.

Through this work SPA makes a direct contribution towards improving standards of enjoyment and achievement in schools and promoting stronger and safer communities by providing positive activities for young people, improving learning skills, raising young people's self esteem and self confidence and improving their education and employment prospects.

Visit the Staffordshire Performing Arts web pages

Last Modified: 11/03/2008 15:06:22
Back to top