Local studies
Jersey Library holds an extensive local studies collection that supports research into our Island’s history, culture and community.
The collection is located on the first floor of the Town Library. It provides an invaluable resource for historians, genealogists, students and members of the public interested in Jersey’s past.
The local studies section has a reading room that provides:
- quiet study spaces and bookable study rooms
- microfilm readers and printers to view archived newspapers and documents
- photocopying and scanning facilities
- free wifi and computers
- specialist staff to guide and assist you
You can access our local studies collection and reading room during library opening hours. Our staff will be present to guide your research and help you access materials.
Main resources in the collection
Find below some of the resources you can access in the local studies collection.
For information on other resources you’re looking for, contact us by email at
je.library@gov.je.
Parish registers
Find records of baptisms, marriages and deaths, including registers from:
- Church of England
- Roman Catholic
- Methodist
- independent church registers
Electoral rolls
Electoral registers maintained by Jersey’s parishes.
PRIDE (Public Registry Index and Document Enrolment)
Use the PRIDE database to research historical property and estate information in Jersey.
Jersey Laws
Collection of official laws and regulations, including historic and current legislation for research and reference.
Local newspapers
Access over 200 years of local newspapers and periodicals, including the Jersey Evening Post.
Other historic newspapers are available to access on microfilm.
Jersey Evening Post (JEP) Indexes
Indexed archives covering key periods:
- 1914 to 1918 (First World War)
- 1940 to 1945 (German Occupation)
Valuable for researching local news, social history and wartime events.
We have 2 microfilm machines you can use to view records of the JEP from 1897 to present.
Rates lists
You can find insights into property ownership and local economy over time in our collection of historic property rates.
Maps
We have detailed historic and contemporary maps of Jersey to help you understand geographic, urban and parish developments.
Books
Find a large collection of books, documents, photographs and other primary and secondary sources on Jersey’s history, including:
- government publications
- local records
Almanacs
We have a collection of almanacs that provide yearly snapshots of our Island life, including:
- historical data
- statistics
- local information
Explore your family history
We provide information and help with research on all aspects of the Island’s history, from the earliest times to the present day.
We subscribe to many genealogy websites which you can use for free at the library:
Findmypast
Explore millions of historical records from the UK, Ireland and beyond, including:
- census data
- parish records
- military documents
Findmypast is ideal for tracing your ancestry.
You can only use Findmypast in the library.
Ancestry.com
This is one of the world’s largest online family history databases where you can browse:
- immigration records
- birth and marriage certificates
- international family trees to uncover long-lost connections
You can only use Ancestry.com in the library.
British Newspaper Archive
Search through thousands of digitised newspapers dating back over 300 years, including several local publications.
It can help you:
- discover obituaries and family announcements
- gain a deeper understanding about the times your ancestors lived in
You can only use British Newspaper Archive in the library.
Local archives and resources
Our local studies collection can help you dive deeper into your Jersey heritage. Find more details above.
Books published in Jersey
Under the
Legal Deposit (Jersey) Law 2007, publishers must give a copy of any work published in Jersey to Jersey Library.
This is called the Legal Deposit Collection and it helps preserve the Island’s cultural heritage for future generations.
These copies are kept in the Local Studies Collection, which you can access in the Reading Room during library opening hours.
Rare and historic publications (Falle Room collection)
The Falle Room
The Jersey Public Library began in 1743 near the Town Church.
It started with over 2,000 books donated by Reverend Philippe Falle and it was later enriched by a major donation from Reverend Daniel Dumaresq.
The library has grown over time and moved to its current location on Halkett Place in 1989.
Today, those early donations form the heart of the Falle Room collection, which holds rare and historic books.
Access is by appointment only. Contact us for more information.
gov.je