A SCHEME to provide access to family history and national newspaper archives is proving a hit in Rawdon.

New visitors have been going to Rawdon Community Library to make the most of the Find My Past website and the British Newspaper Archive website. The important sources of historical information are being made available at the library in a trial which ends on March 15.

Clive Woods, of the Rawdon Library Steering Group and Chairman of Aireborough Civic Society said the newspaper archives included thousands of interesting stories.The Find My Past family history website is available via the library’s computers. All census information from 1841–1911 is available as well as details of births and deaths. The National Newspaper Archive are also be open to visitors during this period. Users will be able to access old Yorkshire newspaper archives as well as national newspapers.

Anyone wanting to use the archives needs to bring proof of identity and of their address. The library is open from 10am to 6pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and from 10am to 1pm on Saturday.

Mr Woods said: “We have had many new visitors to Rawdon Library to look up family history on the ‘Find My Past’ website, and local and national history interests on the ‘British Newspaper Archive’ website.” Aireborough Civic Society holds its meetings at the library on the last Thursday of every month.