1. Readerships and Literary Cultures 1880-1950

2. Purpose of the archive Stimulate research within the academic community into readerships, hierarchies of taste and the battle of the brows Stimulate interest in these issues in the local community, an aim in line with current HEFCE and AHRC thinking

3. Scope of the archive Out-of-print popular fiction of cultural significance and associated life-writing Titles that informed recent critical texts about popular fiction (e.g. Baxendale, Briganti, Grover, Hammill and Wild) Titles that might lead researchers to under- researched areas Titles that might engage interests of local community

4. What to exclude? Authors still in print which we can add to the general library stock (e.g.Persephone titles) Genres which might swamp the archive (e.g. detective stories and thrillers) but which will be lightly represented

5. What to include? Texts which were widely discussed bestsellers and markers of taste: Beau Geste, The Lost Horizon, The Way of the Eagle, etc. Texts by such key taste-makers as Bennett, Priestley and Spring Full runs of certain authors which will invite in depth studies

6. Full runs completed or being assembled: Florence Barclay Arnold Bennett A. J. Cronin Warwick Deeping Mazo de la Roche Ethel M. Dell Maud Diver O. Douglas Gilbert Frankau Walter Greenwood Georgette Heyer Sheila Kaye Smith Margaret Kennedy Rose Macaulay Ethel Mannin Edgar Rice Burroughs William Pett Ridge J. B. Priestley Margery Sharp Howard Spring Hugh Walpole E. H. Young

7. Which editions? Early reading editions not necessarily firsts With dust jackets if possible With advertisements and information about other related titles With telling inscriptions

8. How to make the archive accessible Only first editions and very rare titles in the Special Collection Bulk of the collection in the Key Texts section where the titles would be on open shelves but secure Add related in-print titles to the main collection Catalogue e-versions where they exist

9. Time-scale The collection to be added to the library in January 2010 2009-2010 Mary to work on bids for AHRC funding for academic projects and for Heritage Lottery funding which will promote knowledge transfer with local study and reading groups Mary to build links with local groups who might be interested in exploring the archive

10. Suggestions welcome Contents Use Funding