The Blackburn Temperance Movement was a powerful force in the 19th Century and held meetings at various locations. Mr Thomas Lewis built a mission hall with meeting rooms and library, which was opened in 1891 by Dr F R Lees, a noted temperence writer and named 'Lees Hall' in his honour. The hall closed in May 1973. In 1974 the library collection was deposted at Blackburn reference library and includes books, notices, posters, pamphlets, journals and photographs. No specific subject area is catered for.
Materials are a general collection of early works which are of local significance.
The collection is the property of the LAA and consists of works by Lancashire authors. Almost entirely literary but includes some local histories, with a particular subject strength in works in Lancashire dialect. Begun some 60 years ago, the collection is still added to by its members. Description Consists of two parts - reference and lending. Reference Comprises the Commonwealth War Graves Commission memorial and cemetery registers, microfilmed lists of officers and mem who died in the Great War, local studies information about Accrington Pals, contemporaty newspaper accounts and other local information.