The Co-operative Collection

Rochdale was the birthplace of the Co-operative Movement, and home of the Rochdale pioneers. The Wheatsheaf Library has a collection of material on the subject of co-operation.

The collection holds nearly 1,500 items, published from 1829 to date, relating to co-operation both in the UK and internationally. There are books; pamphlets; yearbooks; bound volumes of newscuttings; and also the weekly paper "Co-operative News." Material charts the birth of the Co-operative Movement in Rochdale and the history and development of co-operative societies around the world to the present day

A small number of the books may be available for loan for a short period, if there are duplicate copies. Otherwise, the material is available for use in the reference library only.