GLASGOW'S newest library member is busy purr-using the stacks of the city's largest library.

A ginger cat has chosen to make the Mitchell Library his home from home and can be spotted boldly making himself comfortable among the books.

The tom has become such a well-kent face in the library that staff have nick-named him Mitch.

Now libraries are calling on locals to follow in Mitch's paw prints and explore what the Mitchell has to offer, as part of the nationwide Explore Your Archive campaign.

Councillor Archie Graham, chairman of Glasgow Life, said: “A world without archives is a world without memory and City Archive staff, based at The Mitchell, have pulled together a fascinating collection of our city’s memories across eight centuries, opening up the wonderful heritage of Glasgow and its people for residents and visitors alike.

“From an 1188 papal bull to photographs of 19th century convicts, and images of the rich and famous, our city archives offer a fantastic collection for all to explore.

“I’m delighted that not only will a number of these items be available to view within the Mitchell Library itself, we will also be posting photographs and snippets from our collection on our social media channels, enabling local residents and those more further afield to explore the magic of the city archives wherever they may be.”

Explore Your Archive is a joint campaign from The National Archives and the Archives and Records Association across the UK and Ireland.

It aims to showcase the potential of archives to excite people, bring communities together, and tell the amazing stories of the city.

In Glasgow, the week-long event will unearth some of the more unique treasures housed within The Mitchell Library’s archive collections.

Home to more than 750,000 architectural drawings, council minutes from 1574, and the records of more than 300 schools, alongside private collections of businesses, societies and politicians to name but a few, the City Archives at The Mitchell Library boast a fascinating collection of the city’s memories as unique and diverse as Glaswegians themselves.

Visitors are invited to drop-in to the City Archives at The Mitchell, to discover what life was once like in Glasgow’s communities through collections of stories, photos and other artefacts.

Explore your Archive week is also be supported by an interactive social media campaign, designed to encourage archive-enthusiasts young and old to engage with the city’s stories via Facebook and Twitter.

With historic selfies being posted on social media across the week-long event, featuring everyone from early Lord Provosts to famous Glasgow characters, plus trivia quizzes and brain teasers Glasgow Libraries hope to encourage more people to fall in love with the magic of the archives.

And other furry friends like Mitch will have their stories told in a host of weird and wonderful animal archive items, from a seventeenth century serpentine letter to images of the elephants of the Indian Army.

To find out more about the campaign see www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries