Libraries online reference

We pay the subscription fee on certain websites so that our library users can benefit from access.

If you are not a full member of the library, you can become a virtual member to access subscription resources from home or office.

When you visit the premium subscription websites you will need to enter your library card number in the box provided.

Some resources may only be available in certain libraries due to licensing requirements - any restrictions are listed in the entry for each resource.

Access to Research provides free, walk-in access through the UK public library network to a wide range of academic articles and research.

Subjects include art, architecture, business, engineering, history, languages, politics, philosophy, mathematics and the sciences.

Due to licensing restrictions Access to Research can only be accessed in the library through Northamptonshire Libraries computer, internet and wifi service at the following libraries:

  • Corby
  • Irthlingborough
  • Kettering
  • Oundle
  • Rushden
  • Wellingborough

Not all articles listed on Access to Research can be viewed for free.

Downloading or saving onto portable storage devices is not permitted.

Access to Research

Subscription resources

Complete Business Reference Adviser (COBRA)

​COBRA is a practical and comprehensive resource for anyone wanting to start a business, write a business or marketing plan or conduct research into a new market. Cobra is available in all libraries and home access by entering the library card number.

COBRA

Fame

Fame is a comprehensive database of information on both public and private companies across the UK and Ireland. It is a valuable business intelligence tool for sales and marketing.

Fame is available at Wellingborough Library and Kettering Library.

Due to licensing requirements Fame is not available through home access.

Fame

Grantfinder

​Featuring over 8,000 continually updated funding opportunities, Grantfinder enables you to identify, apply for and manage funding.

Grantfinder is available at Wellingborough Library and Kettering Library.

Due to licensing requirements, Grantfinder is not available through home access.

Grantfinder

IBIS World market research reports

IBIS World is a market research database providing statistics and expert analysis on industries, consumers and companies in the UK.

IBIS World is available at Wellingborough Library and Kettering Library.

Due to licensing requirements, IBIS World is not available through home access.

IBIS World

Local Data

​Local Data Online have a team that are on the ground daily, physically examining every retail location across the UK to capture an accurate and dynamic picture of the UK high street. Historic analysis, present and future forecasts can be taken from this data, enabling businesses to make better strategic decisions.

Local Data is available at Wellingborough Library and Kettering Library.

Due to licensing requirements, Local Data is not available through home access.

Local Data

Newsbank

​Newsbank provides full text of articles from a wide range of UK national, regional and local papers as well as international news sources including print and online-only newspapers, blogs, newswires, journals (including business journals), broadcast transcripts and videos. Coverage includes over 300 UK news sources and over 1,800 US news sources. Newsbank is available in all libraries and home access by entering the library card number.

Newsbank

Statista

​Worldwide resource containing reports, statistics, outlooks and infographics for industries in over 150 countries.

Statista is available at Wellingborough Library and Kettering Library.

Due to licensing requirements, Statista is not available through home access.

Statista

Free websites

Registering your business

Companies House

Information on registering your business as a limited company. Free company name search provided.

GOV.UK

​Information on starting up and running a business in the UK, including help if you are self employed or a sole trader.

HM Revenue and Customs: self employed

​HMRC's section for people who are self employed or are considering becoming self employed.

Tax national insurance and VAT

HM Revenue and Customs: Leaflets, factsheets and booklets

​Collection bringing together leaflets, factsheets and booklets issued by HM Revenue and Customs.

HM Revenue and Customs: Live webinars

​Live webinars are available on set dates and times. They usually last an hour and there is time to ask the presenter questions at the end. Customers will need to complete a simple registration in advance giving their name and email address.

HM Revenue and Customs: Online Learning

​Online learning is an e-course covering tax, National Insurance, business records and expenses.

HM Revenue and Customs: recorded webinars

​Recorded webinars are available at any time and can be viewed at your own pace. However, unlike live webinars they are not hosted so there is no opportunity to ask questions.

HM Revenue and Customs: YouTube channel

​Short information videos located on HMRC YouTube channel. They aim to provide reassurance and offer quick help.

Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW): business advice service

​Includes information on how business start-ups can book a free appointment with a chartered accountant.

Open Learn: introduction to bookkeeping and accounting

​Learn the essential numerical skills required for accounting and bookkeeping. This free course explains the fundamental rules of double-entry bookkeeping and how they are used to produce the balance sheet and the profit and loss account.

Turn2us:self employment benefits

​Information on benefits you may be entitled to if you are self employed.

Writing a business plan

Barclays

HSBC

Lloyds

Natwest

​Information about business plan content, including templates and online tools (Registration may be required).

GOV.UK: business plans

​Help page on writing your business plan. Includes a link to the Prince's Trust business plan template; and also free sample templates available through Bplans.co.uk.

Raising finance for your business

Big Issue Invest

​The UK's first 'social merchant bank,' by social entrepreneurs, for social entrepreneurs.

Business Angels

​The UK national trade association representing private investors or a group of investors looking for opportunities to invest money in enterprises.

First Enterprise

Provides advice and business loans to pre-start and existing business owners throughout the East Midlands.

Grantfinder

​Grantfinder enables you to identify, apply for and manage funding. Featuring over 8,000 continuously updated funding opportunities. Grantfinder can only be accessed at Northampton Library, Wellingborough Library, Kettering Library, Towcester library and Brixworth libraries.

Leader

​Grants for small and medium-sized rural businesses: farmers wishing to diversify; tourism projects; community groups; foresters and other rural enterprises.

Prince's Trust: business funding

​Where to find the money for your own business start-up, and which option is the best for you.

Responsible Finance

​Responsible Finance providers offer simple, affordable loans when the bank can't help.

Start Up Loans

​A Government initiative providing funding, mentoring and support to those looking to start or grow a business. Start-up Loans works with Enterprise Loans East Midlands and CWRT to support Start Up Loans applicants in the East Midlands.

Startups.co.uk

​Small business advice, business ideas and information on starting a business.

Building your online skills and digital strategy

ALISON

​e-business online course.

Google: digital garage

​Get the digital skills you need to grow your business.

Hootsuite: podium

​Six free courses on the fundamentals of social marketing.

Lloyds Bank: online skills for small businesses and medium sized enterprises

​Guide to basic online skills and using online services to help with your business.

Business start-up resources: Northamptonshire

Buy With Confidence: approved trader scheme

​Information on applying to become an approved trader to show customers that you are Trading Standards approved.

Enterprise Club: University of Northampton

​Offers advice, mentoring, training and networking to university staff and students; and also local entrepreneurs.

Federation of small businesses: Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland

​UK's largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self employed and owners of small firms.

Northampton University Business Support Team

​Support for anyone looking to start a new business.

Northamptonshire Chamber

​Represents around 1,000 Northamptonshire businesses, who employ over 1/3 of the county's workforce.

Northamptonshire community housing network: self employment training

​Support for disabled people considering self employment.

SEMLEP Growth Hub

​SEMLEP's Growth Hub offers business support to growing businesses.

General business start-up resources - national

Business Companion

Information for businesses and individuals that need to know about trading standards legislation.

CITB

​The CITB supports the skills needs of the British construction sector.

CWRT

Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to supporting individuals, start ups and businesses.

Intellectual property basics

​Series of videos helping businesses understand IP and some of the areas around it.

Kick Off In Business

​Offer free, short courses to give you an insight into self-employment, help you launch your own business, and give you the help and support you need to grow your business.

Lawyers for your Business

​Scheme run by the Law Society offering a free consultation on legal requirements relating to your business.

Press Gazette: company profiles

​Searchable database listing over 5 million UK limited companies.

Prince's Trust

​National campaign by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, harnessing the expertise and passion of Britain's leading business people; aims to celebrate, inspire and accelerate enterprise in the UK.

The Small Business Tool Kit

​The Small Business Toolkit by The Business Community is a published book that you can access for free and read online or download as a PDF. It is a collection of articles to help improve and enhance the success of any small business looking to grow.

Social enterprise resources

Co-operatives UK

​Basic information on establishing co-operatives.

Inspire2Enterprise

​A partnership between the University of Northampton and Exemplas: a support service for the social enterprise sector providing information, specialist advice, training, consulting, coaching and mentoring to new and existing social enterprises and social entrepreneurs.

Social enterprise East Midlands

​A partnership of organisations from the community, voluntary, enterprise, government and regional development sectors of the East Midlands.

Social enterprise UK

Business office space

Flexioffices

​Details of thousands of serviced offices in the United Kingdom.

FreeOfficeFinder

​A commercial property brokerage company offering all kinds of office space, these include flexible, serviced or conventional spaces across Northamptonshire. A completely free service to help you find the office space suited to you.

Office Genie

​Designed specifically for small businesses, startups and freelancers; search all the main types of office space for rent and then compare available space on a like-for-like desk cost basis.

Offices.org.uk - Northamptonshire

​Directory of serviced office space in Northamptonshire.

Square Feet Co Work

Square Feet have developed exceptional spaces designed to give an exceptional working environment; providing businesses with the space they need to grow.

Vulcan Works Creative Hub

Vulcan Works provides lettable office space, workshops, meeting rooms and co-working spaces for business owners in the heart of Northampton’s Cultural Quarter.

Business networking organisations

CoWork Club

CoWork Club takes the best bits of co-working and networking and jumbles it together in a once-a-month 1 day event.

Digital Northants

Digital Northants is a collaboration between local digital businesses, the University of Northampton, and Northamptonshire County Council designed to support digital innovation in and around Northampton.

Federation of Small Businesses (fsb)

Its mission is to help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions. Events are free and open to all small businesses and the self-employed across the UK.

Love Corby

Love Corby is an online portal supported by a not for profit consortium of Corby businesses, to promote the local area, its businesses and attractions.

Make it your Business

Events delivered all over the country, where women can meet established local female entrepreneurs, learn from their experiences and network with other local aspiring female entrepreneurs.

National Enterprise Council

Support network for all pre-start, new and established businesses

Northamptonshire Chamber

Represents around 1,000 Northamptonshire businesses, who employ over one third of the county's workforce.

NNBN

NNBN supports businesses, charities and organisations across Northamptonshire providing support to the Northamptonshire business community.

Oundle Business

Monthly social networking evenings discussing business matters and local issues.

The Business Community

A supportive community of around 150 small business owners with regular networking groups in Northants and the surrounding counties.

Statistics

2011 Census

​Census statistics help paint a picture of the nation and how we live. They provide a detailed snapshot of the population and its characteristics.

Nomis

​Nomis has a range of datasets covering aspects of the labour market, life events and other topics from the Office for National Statistics.

Office for National Statistics

​The Office for National Statistics is the UK's largest independent producer of national statistics.

Sustainable business

Bira: sustainability in retail hub

The latest information events and services to help your retail business grow without impacting our planet.

Carbon Trust: climate action plans and business sustainability

A range of tools, guides and reports to help your business or organisation achieve your sustainability goals.

Energy Saving Trust: building a sustainable future

Support to communities, local authorities, supply chain and businesses of all sizes, enabling them to play their part in building a sustainable, energy efficient future.

FSB: small business sustainability hub

Grow your business. Shrink your carbon footprint. The FSB Sustainability Hub is regularly updated with the latest resources, tools and information to help your small business prepare for changes, go green and be more sustainable.

Low Carbon Workspaces

Low Carbon Workspaces offers small and medium-sized businesses in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes grants of between £1,000 and £6,750 to cover up to a third of the cost of making energy improvements.

SME Climate Hub

The SME Climate Hub is a global initiative that aims to mainstream climate action in the small to medium sized business community, and enable SMEs to build resilient businesses for the future.

 

Life in the UK test (Go Citizen)

Go Citizen is an online study resource for people preparing for the Life in the UK test or the British citizenship test. It includes an online version of the latest official study materials licensed from the Home Office, the people who write the handbook plus hundreds of practice test questions in the same format as the official test.​

Due to licensing terms, you will be required to register for free to use the website.

Go Citizen website

Theory Test Pro

Theory Test Pro is a highly realistic online simulation of the UK's driving theory test. It contains the entire official test question bank, hazard perception video clips and an online version of the Highway Code.

Due to licensing terms, you will be required to register for free to use the website.

Theory Test Pro website

Subscription resources

Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland

​The ultimate reference work on family names of the UK and Ireland, covering English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish, and immigrant surnames. It includes every surname that currently has more than 100 bearers and those that had more than 20 bearers in the 1881 census.

Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland

Oxford English Dictionary

​The authoritative guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words - past and present - from across the English-speaking world.

If you are accessing the website through remote access, please click on sign-in and enter your library card (type D' before the number) in the 'library card number' box.

Oxford English Dictionary

Free websites

Acronym Finder

​Contains more than 1 million human-edited definitions. Combined with the Acronym Attic, Acronym Finder contains more than 5 million acronyms and abbreviations.

Dictionary.com

​Dictionary.com is a destination for learning and word discovery. It provides resources for schoolwork and careers.

Encyclopedia.com

​Provides reference entries from credible, published sources like Oxford University Press and Columbia Encyclopedia, you get free access to nearly 200,000 reference entries.

Wikipedia

​Wikipedia is a free, web-based encyclopaedia.

Word reference

​A collection of free online translation dictionaries.

 

Subscription resources

Ancestry and Find My Past

Search billions of family history records with Ancestry and Find My Past.

Due to licensing requirements, Ancestry and Find My Past can only be accessed in the library on Northamptonshire Libraries People's Network computers.

British Newspaper Archive

Explore hundreds of national, regional and local titles dating from the 1700s to 1950s. Search hundreds of millions of articles by keyword, name, location, date or title, and watch your results appear in an instant.

The British Newspaper Archive can only be accessed in the library on People's Network computers due to licensing restrictions.

You will need to register (for free) with the British Newspaper Archive from a library computer before you can use the library subscription.

British Newspaper Archive

John Johnson Collection

​Housed in the Bodleian Library in Oxford, the John Johnson Collection is generally regarded as the most significant single collection of ephemera in the UK.

John Johnson Collection

Useful websites

Family history

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

​Memorial website to 1.7 million members of the armed forces, who were killed during both world wars.

Deceased online

​Central database for UK burials and cremations with a free search facility. 

Northamptonshire Libraries does not subscribe to subscription resources on this website.

FamilySearch

​Search and explore historical record collections and more in the United Kingdom and Ireland, England.

Free BMD - Rootsweb

​Free access to birth, marriage and death records from 1837 onwards.

Free Reg

​Volunteer project which aims to provide free internet searches of baptism, marriage, and burial records, which have been extracted from parish registers, non-conformist records and other relevant sources in the UK. Currently contains over 37 million records.

General register office

​Link to order birth, death or marriage certificates online.

GENUKI

​Gateway to UK genealogy websites in the UK and Ireland.

Irish Genealogy

​Contains digitised copies of civil records (births, marriages and deaths) held by the Republic of Ireland's General Register Office, and a limited number of church records.

Northamptonshire Family History Society

​Aims to advance the study of genealogy and family history with special emphasis on Northamptonshire.

Scotland's people

​The official website for Scottish genealogy resources.

Northamptonshire Libraries does not subscribe to subscription resources on this website.

Wikitree

​A free collaborative website with the mission of creating a worldwide family tree.

Northamptonshire heritage resources - towns and villages

A History of Great Addington

​History of Great Addington and the people that shaped it through the landscape and history of England.

Brixworth (Brixworth History Society)

​The society's website contains online resources and information on their archives relating to the history of the village.

Burton Latimer - a sense of place

​Online archives compiled by Burton Latimer Heritage Society relating to the history of the town, its people and their stories.

Chester Farm heritage park

​The site of a Roman walled town, Chester Farm Heritage Park is a £12.7m project funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and Northamptonshire County Council.

Cottinghamhistory.co.uk

​History of the village of Cottingham.

Towcester (Towcester and District Local History Society)

​Online resources relating to the history of the town.

Northamptonshire heritage resources - Countywide

Northamptonshire boot and shoe

​History of and information about Northamptonshire's boot and shoe industry.

Northamptonshire Central Library: local and family history resources

​Information about Northamptonshire Central Library's extensive collection of materials on the county's history is housed in the library's Discover Centre.

Northamptonshire record office

​Over 800 years of Northamptonshire's archival heritage reflecting all aspects of the county's rich history.

Northamptonshire's local history societies

​Contact details and links to family history societies in the county.

National heritage resources

American air museum in Britain

​Records the stories of men and women of the US Army Air Force who served their country from the United Kingdom during World War II. Also records the memories of British people who befriended them.

Art UK

​An online resource for every public art collection in the United Kingdom featuring over 200,000 oil paintings.

British history online

​Digital library of some of the core primary and secondary sources for the medieval and modern history of the British Isles.

The website contains free and subscription sources - Northamptonshire Libraries does not subscribe to the subscription resources.

Building and enriching shared heritages project

​Project by the School of History at Leicester University, which aims to empower local community groups through enhancing their research skills and to develop networks between and amongst local history and community heritage groups and university researchers.

Cambridge University digital library

​Project to make available online the University's collections relating to faith and science.

Discovery (formerly access to archives)

​Find records from the National Archives and over 2,500 archives across the United Kingdom.

Francis Frith Collection

​Discover old photographs of locations throughout the United Kingdom.

Hansard: historic archive 1803 to 2005

​An archive recording Parliamentary debates in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Historical directories

​Digital library of local and trade directories for England and Wales, from 1750 to 1919. Part of Leicester University's Special Collections Online.

Historypin

​Historypin is a way for millions of people to come together to share glimpses of the past and build up the story of human history.

National archives

​The official archive and publisher for the UK Government, England and Wales. The collection contains over 11 million historical government and public records.

National Heritage List For England

The only official, up-to-date, register of all nationally protected historic buildings and sites in England - listed buildings, scheduled monuments, protected wrecks, registered parks and gardens, and battlefields.

Oxford University: Digital. Bodleian

​Selection of collections available online through the Bodleian Library.

Proceedings of the Old Bailey 1674 - 1913

​A searchable database of 197,745 criminal trials.

The Gazette: official public record

​First published in 1665, The Gazette publishes state notices and notices that are considered to be in the public interest including state notices, public notices, insolvency notices, personal legal, company notices and profiles.

VADS the online resource for visual arts 

​VADS (the Visual Arts Data Service) has a portfolio of visual art collections comprising over 140,000 images that are freely available and copyright-cleared. VADS contains a selection of digitised images from the Sir Henry Dryden collection which is located in Northamptonshire Central Library. The physical collection includes Dryden's drawings, plans, and notes.

Victoria County History

​The Victoria County History was started in 1899 and is an encyclopaedic record of England's counties. Several volumes can be read online for free.

National museums and art galleries - digital collections

British Museum

Imperial War Museums

National Army Museum

National Galleries Scotland

National Gallery

National Museums Scotland

National Portrait Gallery

Natural History Museum

Royal Air Force Museum

Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery

Royal Armouries

Science Museum Group (Science, Science Media, Science & Industry, Railway, Locomotion)

Tate Museum

Victoria & Albert Museum

​Explore the online collections of a selection of museums and galleries that are members of the National Museums Directors' Council.

World War I centenary resources

1914.org

​Project led by the Imperial War Museum to highlight global centenary events and resources.

A Street Near You

​A project to commemorate, by street address, the deaths of men and women who died while serving in World War 1.

Lives of the First World War

​Project by the Imperial War Museum to build a permanent digital memorial to the lives of the First World War.

National Archives: First World War

​Explore collections held by National Archives.

Naval history

​Resource relating to navy history during World War I. Archived by British Library, US Library of Congress, Bavarian State Library.

Roll of Honour: Northamptonshire

​Northamptonshire section of the website is dedicated to men and women killed fighting for their country.

Sassoon journals

​This digitised collection from the Cambridge University Digital Library makes available online for the first time 23 of Sassoon's journals.

Western Front Association

​Aims to further interest in the Great War 1914 to 1918.

 

Subscription resources

Oxford Bibliographies: British and Irish Literature

The authoritative guide to the current scholarship on British and Irish Literature with original commentary and annotations by top scholars.

Oxford Bibliographies: British and Irish Literature

Oxford Bibliographies: Victorian Literature

​Expert guide to the literature of the period including recommendations on the best sources to read for topics.

Oxford Bibliographies: Victorian Literature

Who Else Writes Like... ? 

​Who Else Writes Like...? is recognised as a standard work to help introduce readers to novelists whose work is unfamiliar to them.

If you are accessing this website through remote access, please enter ‘WNC-‘ followed by your ‘library card number

Who Else Writes Like...?

Who Next... ?

​Writers of children’s fiction are listed with suggestions of other authors who write in a similar way, together with key book and series titles.

If you are accessing this website through remote access, please enter ‘WNC-‘ followed by your ‘library card number

Who Next... ?

Useful websites

Reading guides

Booktrust Bookfinder

Fantastic fiction

​Bibliographies for over 40,000 authors and information on over 500,000 books.

National Literacy Trust: free resources for parents and families

​Support your child's reading development from birth to age 11 with tips and free resources from the National Literacy Trust.

Project Gutenberg

​Project Gutenberg provides free access to over 56,000 e-books, including classics whose copyright has expired.

Ukrainian Unlimited Learning - Android devices

Ukrainian Unlimited Learning - Apple devices

Free learning platform app for Ukrainian students and teachers, with 3,000 e-book and e-audiobooks, including 1,700 Ukranian titles and 500 in English, for both adults and children.

​Whichbook

Literary organisations

Booktrust

​Reading and writing charity, which gives millions of books away to children and offers support to readers and writers.

Independent Publishers Guild

​Gives independent publishers the support they need to get the most out of publishing and keep their businesses growing.

National Literacy Trust

​National charity dedicated to raising literacy levels in the United Kingdom.

Poetry Society

​Aims to advance the study, use and enjoyment of poetry.

Publishers Association

​A trade organisation serving book, journal, audio and electronic publishers in the UK.

Reading agency

​Charity organisation, which runs creative programmes to help people feel inspired and confident about reading.

Writers' guild

​Trade union representing writers in TV, radio, theatre, books, poetry, film, online and video games.

Writing East Midlands

​Supports promotes and champions writing from the East Midlands.

Subscription resources

Media

British Film Institute (BFI) Replay

BFI Replay is a free-to-access digital archive exclusively available in UK public libraries. Thousands of digitised videos and television programmes from the BFI National Archive and partner UK regions and nations film archives are available to browse and enjoy, research or study – with some familiar and memorable, others rare and unseen for decades.

Due to licensing requirements, BFI Replay can only be accessed in the library on Northamptonshire Libraries People's Network computers.

BFI Replay

Newsbank

​​Newsbank provides full text of articles from a wide range of UK national, regional & local papers as well as international news sources including print and online-only newspapers, blogs, newswires, journals, broadcast transcripts and videos. Coverage includes over 300 UK news sources and over 1,800 US news sources.

Newsbank

PressReader: eNewspapers

​Free instant same-day access to thousands of newspapers and magazines worldwide, including UK national daily and weekend titles through PressReader.

PressReader: eNewspapers

Times Digital Archive 1785 to 2019

​The Times Digital Archive is an online, full-text facsimile of more than 200 years of the Times, one of the most highly regarded resources for eighteenth-, nineteenth-, and twentieth-century news coverage, with every page of every issue from 1785 to 2019.

Times Digital Archive

Useful websites

Beginner's guides to computers and the internet

​Age UK: Technology and the internet

Barclays Digital Wings: free learning tool designed to develop and grow your knowledge and confidence of living in the digital world

BBC iWonder: Understanding computer coding

BBC Webwise

BT: Top Tips on Tech 

Digital Unite

Excel Easy: tutorial for beginners on how to use Microsoft Excel

Learn My Way: learn how to use the internet

Safety and security

Barclays Digital Wings: staying safe online

Children and young people - UK Safer Internet Centre

Digital Unite: internet security

UK Safer Internet Centre

Last updated 17 October 2024