Co-operative 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
Everitt, Jean
History
Co-operative 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
co_operative society library lancashire yorkshire study co_operative society library role live user marks begin modern co_operative movement establishment equitable society first_world_war close decline majority investigation base case_study educational effort nineteen co_operative society lancashire yorkshire english heartland co_operation case_study cover cross_section society large_small much base primary_source_material co_operative society committee minute book balance sheet copy letter book supplement appropriate material contemporary_source later_work co_operative movement general library history co_operative society library study part_whole picture library history brief investigation library provision prior alongside development role co_operative education particular library