EDUCATION OFFICER'S DEPARTMENT AND PREDECESSORS: MIDDLESEX COUNTY LIBRARIES

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: MCC/EO/LIB
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: EDUCATION OFFICER'S DEPARTMENT AND PREDECESSORS: MIDDLESEX COUNTY LIBRARIES
Date(s)	: 1922-1965
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 1 linear metre
Name of creator(s)	: MCC | Middlesex County Council x Middlesex County Council

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Education Department of the Middlesex County Council may be described as one of the most important, progressive and vital public services provided by the council throughout its history. The Middlesex Education Authority, following its inception in 1903, stood as a pioneer in numerous aspects of its work. Previously various attempts had been made to provide public education, since the passing of legislation in 1870. School Boards were abolished by the 1902 Education Act and replaced by Local Education Authorities (LEAs), which were, in effect, the county councils or county borough councils. On 31 March 1965 the Middlesex County Council ceased to exist under the terms of the 1963 London Government Act. Education in the former County of Middlesex became the responsibility of the newly created London boroughs covering the area of the former administrative county.

From the time of their creation in 1889, county councils had been obliged to provide small public library centres in schools, although these were gradually replaced by public library buildings. County library services were set up as a result of the passing of the Public Libraries Act in 1919. Middlesex County Council was responsible for the library service in the districts of Feltham, Friern Barnet, Harrow, Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip and Northwood, Potters Bar, Southgate, Staines, Sunbury-on-Thames, Uxbridge, Wembley and Yiewsley, and West Drayton.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Middlesex County Council Education Officer's Department relating to libraries, 1922-1965, including papers relating to the ceremonial openings of individual libraries; annual reports of the County Librarian; reviews, reports and schemes; papers relating to the development of library services in Harrow; publications including pamphlets and leaflets regarding the Library Service, catalogues, specialised book lists and research guides, issues of the magazine of the Library Service; issues of the Staff Association newsletter and papers relating to the handover of the Library Service to the new London Boroughs in 1965.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

The material is arranged in six series - MCC/EO/LIB/01-06.

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Acquired with the records of its parent authority, the Middlesex County Council, and with successor authorities.

Allied Materials

Related material:

For more records relating to education see MCC/CL/L/EO. There is a small amount of related material in ACC/1312, personal papers of Richard Wright, the County Librarian of Middlesex.

Publication note:

For further information on the history of the Middlesex County Council please see Middlesex by Sir Clifford Radcliffe (2 editions, 1939 and 1953), LMA Library reference 97.09 MID; and The County Council of the Administrative County of Middlesex: 76 years of local government, 1 April 1889 to 31 March 1965, by Middlesex County Council (1965), LMA library reference S97.09 MID.

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
April to June 2009