Cooperative Society Libraries and Newsrooms of Lancashire and Yorkshire from 1844 to 1918

This thesis studies co-operative society libraries and newsrooms between 1844 and 1918, and their role in the lives of their users. 1844 marks the beginning of the modern Co-operative Movement, with the establishment of the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers' Society, and by the First World War, most libraries and newsrooms had closed or were in decline. The majority of the investigation is based on case studies of the educational efforts of nineteen co-operative societies in Lancashire and Yorkshire, the English heartland of co-operation. The case studies cover a cross section of societies, from the very large to the very small. Much of the research is based on the primary source material of co-operative societies - the committee minute books, balance sheets and copy letter books. This has been supplemented, where appropriate, by material from other contemporary sources, and later works on the Co-operative Movement and general library history. Co-operative society libraries are studied as part of the whole picture of library history, through a brief investigation of other library provision prior to and alongside their development. The role of co-operative education, and in particular libraries and newsrooms, is examined in the context of the many aspects of the Co-operative Movement. Because of its significant place in Co-operative history, the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers' Society is considered as a complete society case study. Case studies of the other societies review all aspects of their libraries and newsrooms, including management, funding, staffing, everyday administration, such as membership and regulations, and other additional services offered by many libraries. The stock content and issues of co-operative society libraries are examined through available catalogues, and through references in minute books and balance sheets. The newspaper and periodical holdings of co-operative society newsrooms are also similarly examined.