Cheshire Archives and Local Studies have been awarded the new Archive Service Accreditation standard.
The UK quality standard recognises good performance in all areas of archive service delivery and being an Accredited Archive Service ensures the long-term collection, preservation and accessibility of local archive heritage.
Achieving accredited status demonstrates that Cheshire Archives and Local Studies have met clearly defined national standards relating to management and resourcing; the care of Cheshire’s unique collections and what the service offers to its entire range of users.
Based in Duke Street, Chester, it is a joint Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire East Council partnership.
Cheshire West and Chester Councillor Louise Gittins, Cabinet member for culture, leisure and wellbeing, said: “Cheshire Archives and Local Studies are truly a success story.
“Over the past 30 years around 200,000 visitors have passed through the turnstile and half a million documents have been produced for visitors from the strong rooms.
“And 1.5 million visits are made to the service’s website and online collections each year while our archive and library services together with Cheshire East Council’s library service, help around 300,000 people each year access family and local history materials.
“I would like to congratulate Cheshire Archives and Local Studies on their accreditation and the figures certainly prove that they are a popular service both locally, nationally and internationally.”
