The Museum has a huge archive of local material, under topics such as Agriculture, Business and Industry, Education, Health, Local Government, Military, Recreation and the Arts.

Back numbers of Parish and Nonconformist magazines, maps of the town and surrounding area and plans and estate agents' brochures on properties are available for study.

There is a growing Local Studies Library. Important books already in the Collection, include:

Throsby's Views of Leicestershire [1790]

John Nichols' History of Leicestershire,

vol I, part I; vol II, part I; vol III, parts I & II; vol IV, part II

Bell's The Huntingdon Peerage [1821]

Mammatt's The Ashby Coal Field [1834]

Potter's Charnwood Forest [1842]

The Victoria County History of Leicestershire, Vols 1 - 3

Local Trade Directories and Business Annuals cover the period from the early 19th century.

The Museum also has a nearly complete set of The Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and History Society from the 1860s.

The main archives of the Ashby Girls' Grammar School [from 1889] are stored at the Museum, as is a substantial amount of the Boys' Grammar School archive for the 20th century.

The Museum also holds the Beaumont Papers relating to 19th century estate accounts for Coleorton Hall; Ashby and Netherseal Court Leet Papers; William Langley Trust Papers; The Bowyers' Company Papers; and a substantial collection of Hastings' Family Papers.

All the above are available for study by visitors, whether for academic research or general interest.