Library members have free access to this online reference library. The extensive range of resources below is available on computers in the library with the majority also being available from your home computer.
Encyclopaedias are available at levels to suit various age groups. General reference collections include the contents of many individual reference books on all sorts of subjects. These can be searched as individual titles or across the whole collection.
All the titles can be used in any of our libraries and where indicated you can also use them from your own computer at home, just click on the appropriate link.
Credo Reference
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The entire contents of hundreds of quality reference books with innovative searching and linking techniques. |
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World Book Encyclopaedia
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Great family encyclopaedia with content linked to the National Curriculum. Also with multi-language capacity and many added features. |
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| Oxford Premium Reference Collection |
The world's most trusted reference collection. |
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Encyclopaedia Britannica Library Edition
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The world's best known encyclopaedia. With included editions for children (5-11) and students (12-18) as well as adults. |
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| Gale Virtual Reference |
Comprehensive collection of reference sources across many subject areas. |
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Online dictionaries give you the advantage of always being able to find the right word quickly. There are also lots of extras to make them especially useful.
All the titles can be used in any of our libraries and where indicated you can also use them from your own computer at home, just click on the appropriate link.
| Oxford English Dictionary Online |
The gold standard dictionary for the English Language. |
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| Oxford Language Dictionaries |
Dictionaries and language tools for Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish. |
In Library
At Home |
Biographical, Historical and Genealogical
A wealth of information whether you want to explore the great events of the past, are tracing your own family history or just want to find out about a well-known person.
All the titles can be used in any of our libraries and where indicated you can also use them from your own computer at home, just click on the appropriate link.
| Ancestry Library Edition |
Masses of information for family history researchers, including census records, births marriages and deaths and much more. |
In Library only
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Dictionary of National Biography
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Biographies of over 50,000 people who shaped the history of the British Isles from earliest times to the year 2000. |
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| Who's Who and Who was Who |
From 1849 right up to this year - the noteworthy and influential in all walks of life. |
In Library
At Home
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| Guardian and Observer archive - 1791 to 2003 |
Discover great events or individual lives as reported at the time. |
In Library
At Home
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| Times Digital Archive |
Full contents of the Times from 1785 to 2006. |
In Library
At Home
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| British Library 19th century Newspapers |
Selected content from national and local newspapers. |
In Library
At Home
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These free online databases provide high quality information on art, music and literature.
All the titles can be used in any of our libraries and where indicated you can also use them from your own computer at home, just click on the appropriate link.
Oxford Art Online
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Includes the famous Grove Dictionary of Art and Artists and other reference works together with a large image library. |
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Oxford Music Online
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Brings together the Grove Dictionary of Music and other titles to give a wide coverage of all music genres and history. |
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Naxos Music Library
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Information about music and musicians with the opportunity to listen online to excerpts or complete works. |
In Library
At Home
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Litfinder
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The easy way to track down poems, stories plays and essays. |
In Library only
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Information about the world - political and topical
All the titles can be used in any of our libraries and where indicated you can also use them from your own computer at home, just click on the appropriate link.
Government Evaluations
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Information about local, regional, national and European government. Includes details of all elected representatives. |
In Library only |
| Issues |
Topical reports on current social issues - great for school projects. |
In Library
At Home |
| World Data Analyst |
Current and historical statistics for 217 countries. |
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Our Business Information Service offers these online information sources in support of enterprise activity in Essex.
All the titles can be used in any of our libraries and where indicated you can also use them from your own computer at home, just click on the appropriate link.
| British Standards Online |
Over 45,000 current standards available for instant reference when you need them. |
In Library
At Home |
Kompass Worldwide Business Directories
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Find suppliers of products or services. Over 1.85 million companies in more than 66 countries. |
In Library
At Home |
COBRA - Complete Business Reference Advisor
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Hundreds of business opportunity profiles and factsheets with detailed market analysis and local area profiling. |
In Library
At Home |
| Key Note Online |
Over 380 up-to-date market research reports covering all UK market sectors. |
In Library only |
| Datamonitor 360 (formerly Marketline) |
2,500 reports at global, regional and country level. Profiles of 10,000 major companies and SWOT analyses in addition. |
In Library only |
Mint company information
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Information on over 5 million UK limited and non-limited companies. Includes balance sheets, key contacts, peer reports and branch information. |
In Library only |
Newsbank
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Full text newspapers (regional, national and international) plus over 70 business journals. |
In Library and at Home |
These services offer access to the contents of lots of magazines and newspapers - current and historical, local and world-wide.
All the titles can be used in any of our libraries and where indicated you can also use them from your own computer at home, just click on the appropriate link.
| Newsbank |
Local, national and international newspapers and business journals. |
In Library
At Home |
| Infotrac Newspapers Online |
10 daily and Sunday U.K newspapers. |
In Library
At Home |
| Infotrac Magazines Online |
A range of titles ranging from the popular to the specialist. |
In Library
At Home |
| Guardian & Observer Archive - 1791 to 2003 |
Searchable facsimile editions of these major titles. |
In Library
At Home |
| Times Digital Archive |
Full contents of the Times from 1785 to 2006. |
In Library
At Home |
| 19th Century British Library Newspapers |
History as it happened and an insight into daily life. |
In Library
At Home |
| New Scientist |
Online archive of this important magazine. |
In Library only |
| Which? online |
Online version of the popular consumer magazine series. |
In selected Libraries only. Phone 0845 603 7628 for locations |
These online sites are particularly good for helping with homework queries.
All the titles can be used in any of our libraries and where indicated you can also use them from your own computer at home, just click on the appropriate link.
World Book
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Great family encyclopaedia with content linked to the National Curriculum. Also with multi-language capacity and many added features. |
In Library and at home |
Issues online
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Topical reports on current social issues - great for school projects. |
In Library
At Home |
| Oxford Language Dictionaries |
Not just to find the words but how to use them and even what they should sound like. Includes Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Russian. |
In Library
At Home |
Credo Reference
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The entire contents of 100 quality reference books with innovative searching and linking techniques. |
In Library
At Home |
These free online databases provide high quality information on education, the law, published books and other media and more.
All the titles can be used in any of our libraries and where indicated you can also use them from your own computer at home, just click on the appropriate link.
| Course Search |
Complete UCAS guide to HE, FE and postgrad education courses and institutions. |
In Library / At Home |
| Lexis Nexis |
Legislation, case law, legal forms and much more. |
Library only
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Government Evaluations
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One stop source of information about local, regional, national and European government, including contact details for elected representatives and officials. |
Library only
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| Nielsen BookData |
Details of all currently published books. |
Library only
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| Sequels Online |
Details of adult books in series to make sure you read them in order. |
Library only |