About WCML

The Working Class Movement Library exists to tell the story of people's fight for a better world. It is a treasure trove with records of over 200 years of organising and campaigning by ordinary men and women. This is not dreary politics, grey men in grey suits telling half truths. It's a place of ideas, of questions and of demands. The collection covers everything from working life to political life, to union life, to sporting life. It's full of stuff to inspire you to investigate, and to spur you on to participate. There are lots of free events on too.

The original handwritten minutes of the Manchester and Salford Women's Trade Union Council were deposited at the Library in 2018 by the Mary Quaile Club, which came across them during research into the life of Mary Quaile, an organiser for the Council 1911-1919. You can come and read them, and much much more, by coming to the Library - admission is free and open to everyone. If you want to visit the Library to study please make an appointment in advance so we can get stuff out ready for you. Individual and group tours are welcome by appointment too. You can also drop in to browse our ground floor exhibition space any time between 1pm and 5pm Wednesdays to Fridays.

More about the Library’s collections, events and visiting times is at www.wcml.org.uk.