Restricted and reserve collections
Rochdale Library Service has nearly a hundred collections in its
Catalogue. Most of these can be seen on the shelves in our
libraries but some special collections, mostly held at the
Wheatsheaf Library, are held backstage in our "reserve stock"
shelves. There are also some collections that can only be used by
particular groups of borrowers.
Reserve stock collections
We currently add just over 45,000 new items to stock each year
and remove about 40,000. We need to withdraw old stock partly to
make room for new stock, partly to meet government-imposed
performance targets on stock turnover and the age of the stock on
our shelves.
Some items are removed from stock because they have been lost or
damaged by borrowers. Some are removed to be replaced by more
up-to-date editions, holiday guides and annually-updated reference
books being obvious examples. Other items will be removed as part
of our routine stock-editing, taking into account their age, use
and physical state. Inevitably, there are some titles that we will
want to keep even though none of our copies should be kept on open
shelves. They could be popular "old" titles or authors. They could
be the last representatives of specialised subject areas or items
of local interest. Where possible we will buy a new copy. Where
this is not possible we will keep back a copy of a title and hold
it in one of our "reserve stock" collections held at the Wheatsheaf
Library.
All the titles in these collections can be found on the Library
Catalogue.
All the items in our Lending Reserve Stock collections are
available for loan. You can reserve these items online (there is no
charge for placing reservations on Reserve Stock) and pick them up
at your local library. If you prefer, you can ask a member of staff
for help.
The Co-operative Collection
Rochdale was the birthplace of the Co-operative Movement, and
home of the Rochdale pioneers. The Wheatsheaf Library has a
collection of material on the subject of co-operation, held in our
reserve stock shelves.
The collection holds nearly 1,500 items, published from 1829 to
date, relating to co-operation both in the UK and internationally.
There are books; pamphlets; yearbooks; bound volumes of
newscuttings; and also the weekly paper "Co-operative News."
Material charts the birth of the Co-operative Movement in Rochdale
and the history and development of co-operative societies around
the world to the present day
A small number of the books may be available for loan for a
short period, if there are duplicate copies. Otherwise, the
material is available for use in the reference library only.
Music sets and play sets
We have collections of sets for use by choral societies and
drama groups. These are held in our reserve stock shelves at the
Wheatsheaf. There is a charge for the loan of these materials.
The Reference Pamphlet File
Nearly 3,000 items are held in the Reference Pamphlet File in
the Wheatsheaf Reference Library. The File includes public sector
reports, white papers and consultation documents; political
manifestos; handbooks and information leaflets. All of these items
are on the Library Catalogue and are available on request at the
Enquiry Desk.
The Reminiscence Pack Collection
Reminiscence packs are collections of photographs and
memorabilia to help jog your memory of the past - recent and not so
recent - from tram cars to donkey stones; from top and whips to
liberty bodices. Topics include:
- Childhood
- Holidays
- Shopping
- Fashion
- Wartime
Reminiscence packs are available to be used with groups of
elderly people, including people living in their own homes as well
as people in residential accommodation.
For more details please contact Special Services.
Youth Work Resource Collection
This is a collection of resources - books, pamphlets, games,
etc. - held in the Special Services Unit at the Wheatsheaf Library
for use by Youth Workers. This collection is not available to the
general public.