The Virtual Reference Library
Solihull Library Service subscribes to major online information resources so that you can use them free of charge, at home, at work or in the library, at any time of day or night. All you need is your library card number
The Virtual Reference Library
Published resources you can use with confidence, and that you won't find on Google. These have been specially selected and subscribed to on your behalf, so that you can use them free of charge from any computer with an internet connection - at any time of day or night. All you need is your library card number. If you are not a member, then find out here how to join - it's free.
Just click on one of the links below for more information and the log-in pages, and then type in the number from your library card.
Make sure you put in the whole number without spaces, and include the SLP in capital letters.
| Available in libraries only: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancestry Library Edition | eMoneyfacts Online | Experian B2B Researcher | Find My Past.com | Which? Online |
19th Century British Library Newspapers
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19th Century British Library Newspapers contains full runs of influential national and regional newspapers representing different political and cultural segments of the 19th century
British society.
This includes the Birmingham Daily Post from 1857-1900, Berrow's Worcester Journal from 1822-1896
and national titles such as the Morning Chronicle, Illustrated Police News, and the Pall Mall Gazette
Link: http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/sollib and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
CANS Advice Notes Online
- The online version of the Citizens Advice Notes available in libraries for many years, CANS Online explains the law clearly and simply under a full range of helpful sections, including family and consumer law, education, employment, social security, tax, and immigration.
Link: www.cans.org.uk/index.php?id=144 and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Encyclopaedia Britannica Online
- Online version of the world-renowned Encyclopaedia Britannica, with thousands of authoritative articles and images.
- Britannica Junior (ages 5 - 11)
- Britannica Student (ages 12 - 18)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (ages 18+)
- Enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
First Steps on your computer
- If you or someone you know wants to learn how to use a computer, then First Steps can help you. It shows you all about how computers work, how to use the keyboard and mouse, how to organise files and also how to use the Internet; if you’re working through the course, you can save your place. You don't need any experience with using computers to use First Steps.
Link: http://www.220soft.net/solihull/firststeps/ and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Grove Art Online/Oxford Art Online
- Full online version of the major Grove Dictionary of Art and the Oxford Companion to Western Art, regularly updated. Over 2,500 thumbnail images and access to images in galleries around the world. Go to Oxford Art Online then click on 'Library barcode user login'.
Link: http://www.oxfordartonline.com/ and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Grove Music Online/Oxford Music Online
- Full online version of the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, the New Grove Dictionary of Opera, the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz and also the Oxford Dictionary of Music and the Oxford Companion to Music.
Go to Oxford Music Online then click on 'Library barcode user login'.
Link: http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/ and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Life in Great Britain
- Training and practice tests for the Life in the United Kingdom citizenship programme.
It contains the text of chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Life in the UK along with a glossary,
and is an excellent way to learn and assess your readiness for the test.
Go to the Life in Great Britain site, enter your library card number and you can register
to work through the training and save your place.
Link: http://www.220soft.net/solihull/ and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
NewsUK - now UK Newsstand
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- National and local/regional newspapers, from the Daily Telegraph and Guardian to the Sun and Mirror, and the Birmingham Post and Mail. Also includes the journals the Economist, and New Statesman. Visit the UK Newsstand website and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Link: http://search.proquest.com/barcode?accountid=16457&groupid=92385
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- 50,000 biographies of people who shaped the history of the British Isles and beyond, from earliest times to the recently deceased. Constantly updated. Visit Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Link: http://www.oxforddnb.com/
Oxford English Dictionary
- The world's most authoritative guide to the meaning, history and pronunciation of more than half a million words, tracing their usage through 2.5 million quotations, relaunched in December 2010 with new features including timelines, the Historical Thesaurus of the OED, and more search options. Regularly updated with new words and word uses, and now also includes the working database of OED entries that are being worked on. Visit Oxford English Dictionary and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Link: http://www.oed.com/loginpage
Oxford Reference Online
- More than 100 reference works from Oxford University Press, fully indexed and cross-searchable. Visit Oxford Reference Online and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Link: http://www.oxfordreference.com/
Theory Test Pro
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Theory Test Pro is a highly realistic online simulation of the UK's driving theory test, for cars, motorcycles, large goods vehicles, and passenger carrying vehicles. It contains the entire official test question bank, hazard perception video clips and an online version of the Highway Code. All this material is licensed from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), the people who set the tests.
When you first use Theory Test Pro, you will need to register with your name, email address and password. There is no charge for this. This information allows Theory Test Pro to save your test scores so you can follow your progress as you practise for the test.
You will need a valid email address to sign up for Theory Test Pro.
Full access is available with a Solihull library card - it's free to join!
Link: http://solihull.theorytestpro.co.uk/ and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
The Times Digital Archive
- Every page of The Times from 1785 to 1985. Full facsimile images of either a specific article or a complete page, showing historical events as they were reported at the time, including all articles, advertisements and illustrations/photos.
Visit Times Digital Archive and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Link: infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/sollib
Business Information
(See Business Information Service for more information)
British Standards Online
- The authoritative site for all BSI publications. Updated daily, it includes over 38,500 current, draft and historic British Standards, more than 16,000 of which are BSI-adopted European and International standards.
Link: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/BritishStandard/index.asp and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
COBRA - The Complete Business Reference Adviser
- COBRA is the UK's most comprehensive business reference resource for start ups and established small businesses.
It includes: - Business Opportunity Profiles - over 700 business start-up profiles and guides to business start-up ideas
- Business Information Factsheets - how to's and practical small business checklists, from business plans to
personnel, tax to marketing - UK Market Synopses - guides to trends and opportunities in a number of UK market sectors, with market research
- Local Area Profiles - guides to business support in 290 local areas in the UK
Visit the Cobra website and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Link: solihull.cobwebinfo.com
Other online resources available at all Solihull libraries
Ancestry Library Edition
- Free access from all library PCs to one of the most useful websites for UK and International resources to help you trace your family tree.
- Ancestry includes: census returns 1841-1901 for England, Wales, Scotland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man; indexes to births, marriages and deaths in England & Wales 1837-2005; First World War service records, pension records and medal rolls; lists of ships’ passengers arriving in the UK 1890-1960;
indexes to wills 1861-1941.
Experian B2B Researcher
- Get comprehensive, high-quality data on all UK limited and non-limited companies, including sole traders and partnerships.
You can:- Check out a company, from financial data to director details.
- Search for companies by place or type/size of business.
- Get in-depth marketing information to identify your best opportunities.
- Analyse precisely defined areas and segments.
- Generate mailing lists of companies for targeting.
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The Excel interface allows report lists to be easily tailored to your individual requirements.
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This is a very popular resource, and ideal if you have to do a business plan.
Find My Past
- Free access from PCs in all Solihull Libraries to records including: 1911 census for
England & Wales; overseas indexes to births, marriages and deaths 1961-1994;
lists of ships’ passengers leaving the UK 1890-1960. - Please note that our Community Edition of Find My Past does not include access to the
‘Living Relatives’ records.
Which?
- The website of Which? magazine. As well as a two-year archive of reports, the site contains up-to-the-minute buying guides which make it more up-to-date than the magazines themselves. Available to use on computers at every library - just ask staff for assistance.
Available at Solihull Central Library only
eMoneyfacts
- The online service of Moneyfacts journal. It includes market mortgage sourcing, life quotations, savings, loans and cards searches, and statistics such as the Retail Price Index since 1948.
Local Information
Free to use without a library card, at home or in the library.
Solihull Local Information Directory
- Solihull's own online directory of
- local clubs and organisations
- halls for hire
- public speakers
- tutors
You can search the directory online at http://www.solihull.gov.uk/wwwlocalinfo/, from any PC.
Solihull Active
For information on activities and events taking place in schools, community centres, sports grounds and private health clubs.
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Solihull Family Information Service
The Family Information Service can help you with information on childcare, playgroups, and support for children and parents