Sheffield Council announces plans for items stored at city library
Sheffield Council is planning to modernise access to historic collections.
It announced its intentions to modernise access options as the council begins a long-term process of reviewing and curating the non-lending material currently held in Sheffield Central Library’s basement stack.
This collection has grown over 90 years and includes items ranging from rare books and journals, specialist collections of cultural and historical significance, and outdated reference items.
However, much of this has not been catalogued digitally, making it difficult to access and leaving many untouched for decades.
The council claims that there is a wealth of heritage material hidden from view, pushing them to improve access with a new focus.
The council is going to prioritise digitisation to help people explore collections online, and where appropriate find new homes for material no longer needed within the Sheffield collection.
This framework plan is under review, but if approved would also see the council consult with experts about future decisions.
On Monday, The Star ran a front page on how the historic building has been left to ‘decay for decades’.
In the opinion piece, editor-in-chief Nancy Fielder wrote: “It is not used as well as it should be. There are generations of children who have grown up in the city and never stepped over the threshold.”
Councillor Kurtis Crossthorn, chair of the communities, parks and leisure committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Our non‑lending collections have been built over nearly a century, and while they are rich and fascinating, many are currently inaccessible.
“This proposal creates the foundations we need to protect our city’s cultural treasures, improve access for residents, and ensure we look after these materials in a transparent, modern and responsible way.”