A collection of some 4,000 books and bound journals is housed in the Local Studies Collection at Library HQ in Somerton, near Cowes and is constantly growing as we aim to collect one copy of every book published about the Isle of Wight. The collection contains subjects as diverse as prisons and printers, railways and religion and includes biographies and trade directories. These books are for reference only but smaller loan collections are held at the local libraries throughout the Island. All books are listed in the Library’s on-line catalogue. The majority of the books are held at Library HQ at Somerton but the street and trade directories are held at the County Record Office. Please enquire about access arrangements.

“The Isle of Wight Times”, “The Isle of Wight Observer” and “The Isle of Wight County Press” are available on microfilm at the Isle of Wight County Record Office. Other newspapers, such as “The Weekly Post”, have been bound and are also kept the Record Office. Printouts are available for a charge.

Local registers from the 1920s up to the most recent are available at the County Record Office. The most recent ones are available subject to the Librarian’s discretion, owing to a change in electoral law.

Maps of a variety of scales and dates are held at the County Record Office. They also have a large collection of illustrations, including prints, photographs and paintings.

Other places to enquire include the Isle of Wight Museum Service and the Isle of Wight Archæology and Historic Environment Service, both of which are departments of the Isle of Wight Council. In addition there are locally run heritage centres in many Island towns. Carisbrooke Castle Museum has a large collection of local artefacts and illustrations and the online Isle of Wight History Centre is hosted by the Isle of Wight Industrial Archaeology Society. For family history enquires there is the Family History Centre in the Reference Library in Newport and the Isle of Wight Family History Society.

County Record Office

Historical Directories

West Wight Landscape Partnership