Online reference library
We provide a wide range of electronic reference resources for you to use at home or using one of our library computers.
If you’re in a library, just click on titles to access them. To access them from home, log in to your library account with your library card number and PIN.
Theory Test Pro
A highly realistic online simulation of the UK’s driving theory tests, for all vehicle categories. It contains all the official test questions licensed from the DSA. You need to ‘sign up’ to use Theory Test Pro, and provide your email address.
GoCitizen
An online study resource for candidates preparing for the Life in the UK test or British citizenship test. It includes an online version of the latest official study materials licensed from the Home Office, and hundreds of practice test questions. You need to ‘sign up’ to use Go Citizen, and provide your email address.
NewsStand
Full text of national and regional UK newspapers and magazines in a single searchable database.
The Times Digital Archive
The Times Digital Archive contains the full text of the Times newspaper from 1785-1985.
Who’s Who
The definitive directory of everyone who’s anyone. Includes Who Was Who – over 100,000 entries from the archives of Who’s Who dating back to 1897 – a definitive roll call of the last 100 years of British history.
Rock’s Back Pages
The ultimate archive of music journalism… thousands of classic articles spanning 50 years, by rock’s finest writers.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
An illustrated collection of more than 57,000 biographies of the men and women who shaped Britain’s past.
Oxford Reference Online
Oxford Reference Online brings together 215 language and subject reference works from one of the world’s biggest and most trusted reference publishers into a single cross-searchable resource.
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium.
Oxford Art Online
An online gateway to the vast content of Grove Art Online and other Oxford art reference resources.
Oxford Music Online
Access and cross-search multiple music reference resources.
Encyclopaedia Britannica Junior
Britannica Junior contains comprehensive content for primary school children aged 5-11. Whether it’s frogs or physics, gardening or geography, Britannica Online Library Edition covers it all.
Encyclopaedia Britannica Student
Britannica Student contains comprehensive content for secondary school students aged 12-18. From badminton to biology, heraldry to history, it’s all here.
Encyclopaedia Britannica Library Edition
Britannica Online Library Edition contains comprehensive content for everyone, from primary to secondary school students, from business professionals to curious enquirers. It offers 75,000 articles, including 23,000 biographies.
Who Else Writes Like …?
‘I’ve read all the books by my favourite authors. Who shall I read next?’ Here’s how you find the answer…
Who Next …?
Lists the names of hundreds of children’s fiction writers. Each name suggests other authors who write in a similar way. The idea is that you look up one of your favourite children’s authors, then try reading a book by one of the other authors suggested underneath.
Note: You’ll need to login with your library card number (DD followed by 12 numbers) to access this website.
Ancestry.com
Find census, birth, marriage, and death records, and trace your family’s history and roots. Note: You can access Ancestry.com from any library in Peterborough, but not from home.