Heritage Open Day, Keighley Local Studies Library

September 1, 2016September 1, 2016Bradford Libraries Leave a comment

On 10th September as part of the Heritage Open Days Festival, Keighley Local Studies Library will be host to a variety of local societies and groups and will be exhibiting some of the treasures from their archives and collections.

This is a great opportunity not only to see some of the hidden gems of the Keighley archives, but also to meet local groups, see displays and exhibitions on the history of the local area, and to get help with your family tree and research.

It is also an chance to bring along your own stories, memorabilia and pictures to help celebrate the rich and diverse history and heritage of the Keighley District.

Amongst the groups exhibiting will be Keighley and District Local and Family History Societies, The Airedale Writers Circle, Silsden Local History Society, Oxenhope historians and local authors.

The event will feature the exhibition from Men of Worth about the men of Keighley and District in the Battle of the Somme and Keighley’s Military Hospital along with a showing of the film ‘The Battle of The Somme’.

This is a free ‘drop in’ event and will run from 10.30am until 4.00pm. All are welcome.

KeiHeritage

The Future of UK Sikhs – A Talk

March 29, 2016Bradford Libraries Leave a comment

On Saturday 19^th March, Dr Ramindar Singh MBE gave a well-attended lecture in the Bradford Local Studies Library to mark the publication of his latest book, ‘The Future of UK Sikhs: A Bradford City Story’.

sikhs1

In the lecture Dr Singh presented his vision of the middle of 21^st century Bradford Sikh community as a microcosm of the UK Sikhs, the focus of his book.

Following the talk Dr Singh led a discussion forum about the development of the Sikh organisations in the city, the current challenges they face and the ways to make them appropriate for the future of the community in the city. The interesting and thought provoking talk sparked much discussion and debate which continued long after the talk had finished.

sikhs2

Dr Singh has published books and a long list of articles on topics as diverse as economics, multicultural education, consumer affairs, race relations and local history.

His earlier publications, also available in the Local Studies Library include:

Punjab to Bradford: The Life Stories of Punjabi Immigrants to Bradford, 2013
A Journey by Choice: An Autobiography, 2011
Sikhs & Sikhism in Britain: Fifty Years On: The Bradford Perspective, 2000
Immigrants to Citizens: The Sikh Community in Bradford, 1992

There will be a further opportunity to hear the lecture at the Kala Sangam centre on 14^th May 2016.

Ian Dewhirst in Keighley Library Then and Now!

May 29, 2015May 29, 2015Bradford Libraries Leave a comment

Ian Dewhirst was the Reference Librarian in Keighley Library from 1967 until his retirement in 1991. Here are images of him doing a talk in 2015 and working in the library at the start of his career in Keighley.

Keighley Public Library has the distinction of being the first in England substantially paid for by the Scots-born American industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The Borough council was to provide the site and adopt the Free Libraries Act. An architectural competition was held and the design of McKewan and Swann of Manchester was chosen. The design of the building was described as ‘Edwardian Free Style with Art and Craft influence which presages future 20th century developments in architecture more than it reflects 19th century eclecticism.’ (Sarr 1980)