Since opening this spring, Woodside Library has become one of the most popular parts of the Museum, attracting excellent feedback from visitors and helping us tell richer stories about life in the Black Country during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
A huge thank you to all the colleagues who have helped make it such a success, particularly those working in and around the library every day.
The library contains more than 6,500 books, alongside magazines, newspapers and records. As some colleagues may have seen, there has recently been media interest in the advisory note included inside books in the collection.
The advisory note appears in every book in the library. It is not a comment on any individual title. Rather, it explains our approach to sharing the collection with visitors.
Much of the collection has been acquired through donations and, given its scale, it is not possible to review every item individually. We are also aware that some historical publications may include language, attitudes or assumptions that some visitors could find upsetting, inappropriate or outdated. The advisory note acknowledges this while explaining why we have chosen to preserve these materials and make them available for learning, discussion and reflection.
As a museum, our role is to preserve and share the past. We did not edit or amend the books in our collection, and the advisory note helps provide context for visitors exploring the collection today.
If you have any questions about the library, the advisory note or the approach we have taken, then please do talk with the Interpretation and Collections Team. Any external enquiries should also be directed to the Hannah Parsons in the first instance.
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