There are substantial special collections of various local authors, some famous like William and Mary Howitt and DH Lawrence plus local fiction writers like B J Holmes, Jean Musson, David Levens and R J White.
Consult the detail of local history too, ranging from the full inquiry into the methane gas explosion at Loscoe which destroyed a bungalow to the publications of the Heanor and District Local History Society.
For local and family history research there are electoral registers for the town from 1995 to 2001 supplementing the set of Derbyshire Trade directories on microfiche. The census returns 1841 to 1901 cover Heanor, Marlpool, Cotmanhay, Langley Mill, Codnor, Loscoe and Eastwood and can be viewed on microfilm.
Local newspapers can also be viewed on microfilm:
- Erewash Express 1919 to 1920
- Heanor Observer 1900 to 1977
- Ripley and Heanor News from 1958 to the present
The following newspapers are available in their original format:
- Heanor and Langley Mill Advertiser 1950
- Ilkeston Advertiser August 1952 to December 1953, August 1965 to December 1967
- Ilkeston Observer 9 April 1924 to 1927
- Heanor Herald 1959 to 1970
- odd issues of historic local papers 1882 to 1982: Ripley Advertiser, Alfreton Advertiser, The Standard and Heanor Observer
There is also a news cuttings file mainly covering the period 1970s to the present but including some earlier articles. It covers local villages and areas, local attractions such as American Adventure and parks, industry, education, buildings, health, people and local government.
For visual evidence of the town in the past there is a small map collection and the photographic collection contains around 700 images of the town and surrounding area including the evocative wartime images of the Collaro company.