If the VCH volume you are interested in is out-of-print, or you live outside the UK, your first stop should be British History Online, which publishers VCH volumes electonically.
Further suggestions and links:
If you can visit London or are based there, there is a complete set of VCH volumes with corrigenda at the Insitute of Historical Research Library in Senate House, Malet St, WC1E 7HU
Visit www.history.ac.uk to learn more about the IHR library which does have conditions of membership and is not open to the general public.
There are copies of volumes in the British Museum's reading room and in the British Library.
Befordshire: Bedford Central Library, Harpur Street,
Bedford,
MK40 1PG
Tel: 01234 350931/
Fax: 01234 342163
http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/cgi-
bin/vlib.sh?enqtype=LIBINFO&enqpara1=DEFAULT&libno=10
Berkshire:
Local Studies, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, RG1 3BQ
Tel: 0118 901 5965/ Fax: 0118 901 5959
http://www.readinglibraries.org.uk/
Buckinghamshire: Sets of the Buckinghamshire volumes are held at the Centre for buckinghamshire Studies, County Hall, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP20 1UU. Email: localstudies@buckscc.gov.uk
Milton Keynes Local Studies and Family History Library,
Milton Keynes Central Library,
555 Silbury Boulevard,
Milton Keynes,
MK9 3HL
Tel: 01908 254160
Milton Keynes Local Studies and Family History Library is situated on the ground floor of Milton Keynes Central Library . E-mail: mklocal@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Visit the website at http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/mkl
Cambridgeshire: Cambridgeshire central library, Address: 7 Lion Yard, Cambridge, CB2 3QD
Tel: 0845 045 5225
http://www.camcnty.gov.uk/library/ver1/cam.htm
Cornwall:
VCH Cornwall Vol 1, 1 is held in the reference section of the Cornish Studies Collection at
Truro Library, Union Place, Truro, TR1 1EP.
Tel: 01872-279205
Email truro.library@cornwall.gov.uk
Website: www.cornwall.gov.uk/library
Derbyshire:
A number of Derbyshire libraries have copies for reference and loan. Some of these copies can be seen and reserved online using Derbyshire's online catalogue and others are kept in reserve store at Local Studies and are available on request. The link to the online catalogue is http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/librar/librarysystem.htm
Durham:
Durham Clayport Library,
Millennium Place,
Durham City,
DH1 1WA
Telephone: 0191 386 4003 /
Fax: 0191 386 0379
Contact: June Gowland Email: Durham Clayport Library
Essex: Search Elan (Essex Libraries Automated Network) at
http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/applications/elan/
Gloucestershire: Search the LOCATE catalogue here:
http://opac.gloucestershire.gov.uk/www-bin/www_talis32
Hampshire: Visit http://www.hants.gov.uk/library/localstudies/ for a list of local studies libraries
Hertfordshire: http://www.hertsdirect.org/libsleisure/libraries/where/librarydistrict/
gives information on libraries in various districts of Hertfordshire.
Leicestershire: Melton Mowbray Library, Wilton Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire,
LE13 0UJ
Tel: 01664 560161/
Fax: 01664 410199
E-mail: meltonmowbraylibrary@leics.gov.uk
http://www.leicester.gov.uk/departments/page.asp?pgid=2089
AND: Central Lending Library, Belvoir Street,
Leicester,
LE1 6QL
Telephone:
(0116) 299 5402/
Fax: (0116) 299 5434
Email: central.lending@leicester.gov.uk
Middlesex: See London, above, or
consult the Middlesex volumes within the IHR's collection at the Institute of Historical Research Library - see history.ac.uk for details.
Northamptonshire: Northamptonshire Central Library, Abington Street,
Northampton,NN1 2BA
Tel: (01604) 462040/
Fax: (01604) 462055/
Minicom: (01604) 462040
Email: Centlib@northamptonshire.gov.uk
http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/Leisure/Libraries/Centlib.htm
Oxfordshire:
Centre for Oxfordshire Studies,
Central Library,
Westgate,
Oxford OX1 1DJ
Tel: 01865 815749
Email: cos@oxfordshire.gov.uk
NB closed Wednesdays
The main Central Library (in the same building) also has copies, including some
for other counties.
Rutland: Oakham Library,
Catmos Street,
Oakham,
Rutland,
LE15 6HW
Tel 01572 722918/
Fax 01572 724906
Email oakhamlibrary@rutland.gov.uk
http://www.rutnet.co.uk/pp/gold/viewGold.asp?IDType=Page&ID=1819
Shropshire:Shropshire County Council,
Market Drayton Library,
The Clive Library,
Cheshire Street,
Market Drayton,
Shropshire
TF9 1PH
Tel:+44 (0) 1630 652105 / Fax: +44 (0) 1630 657688
AND:
Shropshire County Council,
Ludlow Library,
7/9
Parkway,
Ludlow,
Shropshire
SY8 2PG
Tel:+44 (0) 1584 813600/Fax: +44 (0) 1584 813601
Somerset: Search for VCH volumes in the Somerset area and beyond at
http://www.foursite.somerset.gov.uk/
Staffordshire: You can access Staffordshire County Council's Library catalogue pages at this address:
http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/live/welcome.asp?id=1030
Surrey: Surrey County Council's online Library Catalogue is at:
http://www.surreylibraries.org/cgi-bin/surrey.sh
Warwickshire: WILD (Warwickshire Interactive Library Database) can be searched at:
http://library.warwickshire.gov.uk/
Wiltshire: Wiltshire Local Studies Library holds copies of all the VCH Wiltshire volumes and of volumes for some other counties. Wiltshire's library catalogues can be searched here:
http://81.144.190.126/cgi-bin/wiltshire-cat.sh
Worcestershire:Online public access library catalogue available at:
http://opac.worcestershire.gov.uk/www-bin/www_talisframes
Yorkshire Volumes: Visit the Riding project here
http://riding.hostedbyfdi.net/riding/index.html
