Local History & Community Month with Newquay Museum & Newquay Library

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Newquay Library and Newquay Museum are collaborating on a project as part of the annual ‘Local History and Community Month’. This national event organised and promoted by the Historical Association will run throughout May. The aim of the month is to increase awareness of local history, promote history in general to the local community and encourage more members of the community to participate. This year it will not be possible to host an indoor display at the library due to COVID restrictions. So, Newquay Museum with Newquay Library will be carrying out a digital project that aims to help local folk and holidaymakers find out something new about Newquay’s historic heritage. This will be through several short videos showcasing some lesser-known aspects of the town, produced by museum partners Newquay Old Cornwall Society and Association for Cornish Heritage. Newquay Library will be promoting & sharing the information on its social media and local posters. The posters which will be updated weekly and included on the Newquay Museum website will include QR codes that can be scanned by using the camera on a mobile device, such as a smartphone. These will take people straight to the webpage and YouTube video, which can then be viewed on their device. Older devices may need to download an app from the app store. The series of posters will be located on windows at Newquay Library, Newquay Museum and at various locations around the town Video links will also be provided on the Newquay Museum website for those who are unable to use the QR code facility. The posters will be shared across several social media platforms to encourage interest. Museum coordinator Len Sheppard commented; ‘it has always been a pleasure working with Newquay Library on exhibitions over a number of years. This digital project is very different but one that local people, visitors and those outside Newquay and across the world will be able to participate in. The past 12 months has widened people’s views on using technology and by scanning the QR code people will find out far more than in a static exhibition whilst out and about.