Information and Reference

Looking for an Answer? Try the library...

In Wirral there are three central reference libraries at Birkenhead, Bebington and Wallasey. All three offer a fantastic range of quality information resources, completely free to Wirral Library borrowers. These include business directories, government publications, yearbooks, maps, encyclopaedias, dictionaries, national and local newspapers and periodicals for finding quick facts or background information to help your studies and projects.  

If you are unable to visit us we offer 'Ask a Librarian' on this website. Using the box on the right of this page send a question online to a reference librarian and receive the answer straight away by live question and answer.

Find the answer here - Books and newspapers in full, on line, and completely free to use 24 hours a day

Users of Wirral libraries can access our fantastic range of free online reference resources. There are resources for business information, family history, music, newspaper articles and much more, all freely available at every Wirral library and to library members at home.

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Local & Family History Resources

Wirral Reference Libraries hold a wealth of resources for those with an interest in family and local history.

The Birkenhead Reference Library resources include:

 An extensive photographic collection.

You can now access Birkenhead Reference Library's Inclusive Photographic Index online.

Please take your time to select a village, school, pub, market, church or road and see if we have a record of your chosen memory from years gone by. Then come along and take a trip down memory lane.

Collections available include: -

1904 Wirral Photographic Survey undertaken by Dr Theodore Green, Birkenhead Photograhic Library, Culls, Frith, Fowler, Griffiths, Postcard, and the recently added Bob Pullan collection.

In total they amount to over 11,000 images of Wirral's heritage.

Why not peruse the index, make a note of your selection and come and view the images at Birkenhead Reference library.

Other resources available include: 

Census Returns - from 1841 upto 1911, available on microfilm, fiche, CDROM or Internet.

Electoral Registers - these list members of a household eligible to vote. From 1862 to date.

Newspapers - an archive of local papers from 1880 to date.

Maps - such as Rights of Way: Ordnance Survey from 1870's to date: Tithe maps: GOADs (these are detailed street maps).

Trade Directories - these are lists of private residents accessible by name or street. A range of date held, from1750s to 1970s.

Parish records - these are the copied registers of all baptisms, marriages and burials in the parish churches across the Wirral.

Cemetery Records - these give details of burials across the borough.

Rolls of Honour and Monumental inscriptions.

Council Proceedings from 1880.

Online Resources - Include the Ancestry.com genealogical website and 19th Century British Newspapers.

Why not let us help you with your research?

Fill out this application form with the details for your research request and we'll help as much as we can.  The fee is £10.50 per half hour.