Source providers
Archives
The
West Sussex Record Office is located in Chichester. Its aim is
to collect and preserve the documentary and recorded heritage of
the County of West Sussex. Its collections include records of local
government from the 16th century, the Diocese of Chichester and its
parishes and those of businesses, families, estates, societies and
schools. It also holds records of West Sussex hospitals, the West
Sussex Constabulary and The Royal Sussex Regiment.
Many of the collections held by the
Record Office can be searched using the Access
to Archives (A2A) website which provides access to over 9
million records from 400 record offices or other
repositories.
Libraries
There are 36 public libraries in West Sussex which offer a
variety of services. You can borrow books, CDs, DVDs, audiotapes,
fiction, non-fiction as well as using the PCs to access the
internet.
Although all West Sussex libraries hold a selection of material
pertaining to their local area, Worthing holds the largest local
studies collection which covers the whole county. You can consult a
wealth of material:
- maps;
- ephemera (including posters, theatre programmes and
leaflets);
- newspapers on microfilm which date back to the nineteenth
century;
- street directories which can tell you which shops existed and
where the more wealthy people lived;
- local history files – these bring together useful information
on particular topics or places put together by library staff;
- photographs and pictures;
- and, of course, books!
The Library Service also provides users with access to reference
material online, most of which can be used remotely with a library
card and PIN. The Library Service has subscriptions to databases
such as X-Referplus (a collection of online reference ‘books’ such
as dictionaries, Who’s Who and quotations), News UK (full text of
67 local and national newspapers), Encyclopedia Britannica Online,
Dictionary of National Biography, Grove Art, Grove Music and
others.
For full details of your local library visit the Library webpages; the Library catalogue is
also available online.
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Museums
Museums provide a rich source of information about our history
and culture. All museums welcome school parties and while some
offer a formal education service, all are likely to be able to
respond to specific requests from teachers with custom-designed
sessions and are capable of delivering a variety of sessions
designed to meet the needs of the National Curriculum. Such
sessions range from guided tours of exhibitions to handling
sessions using real and reproduction objects and materials.
Check out our list of local
museums.
Schools Library Service
Schools Library Service supports the curriculum in West Sussex
schools through the provision of quality resources and consultancy.
Libraries have a vital role within the learning environment, and in
developing independent learning skills. For full details on how
they can support you, check out the Schools
Library Service pages on the West Sussex Grid for Learning
website.