BARNSLEY'S archives department is now closed at weekends due to low demand, saving the council £40,000 as part of its budget cuts.
The Barnsley Archives and Local Studies service, based in the town hall, is home to a wealth of original archives, documenting the history of the borough from the 12th to 21st centuries. It also holds copies of items such as parish registers, title deeds, wills, photographs, maps and newspapers.
In a move that will save about £40,000, the archives department will no longer open on Saturdays or Sundays and instead will only open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, with a late opening on Tuesdays.
** The full story is in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated April 10. **
