The Scarborough Library Archives Group has already catalogued hundreds of items including the library's collections of photographs, postcards and theatre programmes with some more than 100 years old.

They have also looked through the oldest book in the library, The Scarborough Spaw by Dr Robert Wittie from 1660, which describes the qualities and uses of the waters in the town.

The group formed two years ago to sort out some of the archival material, which had been left in temporary storage following the refurbishment of the library in 2003.

They aim to create a database of information which people would be able to access in digital and hard copy formats. Colin Langford, who formed the group, said: "Our work is ongoing but we're very pleased with what we have managed to achieve. The library are elated with what we have done.

"We're collecting and cataloguing so when these databases and hard copies are made, people will be able to consult them. There are people in Scarborough who like to do research and it's all very useful information for them."

They have also created searchable indexes for references to Scarborough in books about the history of Yorkshire, local history journals as well as guides and directories of the town dating back to 1787.

One member is also collecting relevant information from library sources about the Suffragette Movement in the town. For another project members gathered biographical details about mayors and MPs in 19th Century Scarborough, which has recently been published.