Visitors to Stone farmers’ market on Saturday 1st August will be able to to have their say on plans to deliver a new vision for the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Heritage Service.
The new vision for the service sets out how the 10 million historical records, 27,000 objects, 43,000 photographs and 1,800 works of art documenting the county’s past will be preserved and protected for future generations to enjoy. Giving more people access to the service, making more records available online, and getting local communities and schools more involved in activities are also outlined in the plans.
The Service has been working with local history groups and the national Archives Service to develop a vision for the service for the next ten years and now wants to hear what people think. People can take part in the consultation and complete an online survey at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/archives/ourvision until 14th August. A series of public events to enable people to have their say will also be held across the county, including at Stone farmers’ market on 1st August.
Councillor Ben Adams, cabinet member responsible for the Archives and Heritage Service at Staffordshire County Council, said: “We are very proud of our history and heritage here in Staffordshire, and it’s vital that we protect it for future generations to enjoy. Over the past few years we have been working closely with different groups looking at how we can make sure we have a modern service, that’s fit for the future and gives people the best access to the records as possible.
“We are seeing many more people accessing family history records online and this is one of the areas we want to develop, along with taking the service out and involving our local communities more. We now want to hear what people think of the plans to deliver the new vision, so I would encourage anyone with an interest in family history to go along to one of the public events, or have their say on the website.”
An exciting project with family history website findmypast will also make over six million records including parish registers, wills and marriage bonds available over the summer. People will have free access to these records from Staffordshire Libraries as well as the Archive Services offices.
Anyone who completes a consultation form will be entered into a free prize draw to win findmypast vouchers, and a family pass for the historic Shugborugh Estate. Findings from the consultation will be looked at in late August and reported to the project board in September.
