Online information resources
Online library services
Online information resources
Waltham Forest Libraries offer, free of charge, a range of the very best online reference resources that can be accessed over the internet. Our online services include remote access to subscription online databases in our libraries and from home (except Ancestry Library Edition which can only be accessed from within our libraries).
To access each service you will need to enter the letter / numbers on your library card barcode excluding any spaces eg. R09999999 or 00499999999
If you do not have a library card you can join the library online now
Scroll down this page and click on each resource you wish to access. Have a look at some of the great NEW online resources that have recently been added:
E-books
Overdrive - Download eBooks, Anytime, Anywhere
Public Library Online - read books online
Public Library Online offers access to a dynamic range of fiction and non-fiction titles, from a range of renowned publishers. Simply access the books using any internet enabled device in the library, whilst you’re on the move, or from the comfort of your own home.
OneClickdigital - Electronic audiobook service
OneClickdigital is a dynamic collection of unabridged audiobooks. This collection of Adults, Children and Teens audiobooks are regularly updated with new titles being added each month. Download and listen to FREE audiobooks anytime, anywhere. For more details please download the OneClickdigital user guide.
You can download audio books to your own PC, laptop or digital device wherever you can access the Internet / Wifi.
Learning online
Theory Test Pro - prepare for your driving theory test
Everything you need to prepare for and pass your driving theory test. Theory Test Pro contains the official practice test question bank, hazard perception video clips and an online version of the Highway Code.
Go Citizen - Prepare for the Citizenship test
Study resources for candidates preparing for the Life in the UK test or British Citizenship test.
Universal Class - Online Learning Courses
This exciting new learning package offers all members of Waltham Forest Libraries free access to over 400 online courses. From business skills to arts and crafts and from computer skills to alternative therapies, the choice is endless! Want to find out more, click on the icon and get learning...
Transparent Language Online - Learn a new language today!
A fun, easy to use resource. Over 80 languages and interactive online lessons. Whilst it is best to use this resource at home, many aspects can be accessed through a public PC in the library.
Road to IELTS - Learn English
Are you learning English as another language?
Road to IELTS will help you to prepare for the International English Language Test System exam, but can also be used by people who just want to practise.
Family History and Biography
Ancestry Library Edition - Uncover your family history
Key records for family history research, including: 1841-1901 census; birth, marriage and death records; street directories, telephone directories, school and military lists. Please visit your local library as Ancestry can only be accessed from within Waltham Forest libraries.
Find My Past - Research your family history
Find My Past allows you to search or browse over 750 million family history records, including the 1911 census. You can also find a wide range of other records, including: births, marriages and deaths; migration records and passenger lists 1793 to 1960; military records and Probate index records. Please visit your local library as Find My Past can only be accessed from within Waltham Forest libraries.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is an illustrated collection of 55,000 biographies of the men and women who shaped the history of the Britain and beyond.
Who's Who
Who's Who and Who Was Who: the essential directory of the noteworthy and influential in all walks of life, in the UK and worldwide, published annually since 1849.
Art, Music and Literature
Naxos Music Library
Listen to over 70,000 discs and close to 1 million tracks. A wide variety of music including Classical, Jazz, World and Children's. It also includes playlists from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and Trinity/Guildhall graded music exams. You will need your library card details to access this resource and please don't forget to log out.
BDS Lite
Have you ever wanted to know if a particular book is in print? Listened to the radio and want to know more about the book they were talking about? Or just want to read the latest book reviews.
This fantastic resource gives details about this together with books in the media and books that have been adapted for films.
Oxford Art Online
This encyclopedia of the visual arts features articles, thumbnail art images together with search and navigation tools.
Oxford Music Online
Oxford Music Online includes The Oxford Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Grove Music Online. Includes track listings, instrument information and explanation of different musical genres and is updated frequently to include new artists.
Business and Legal information
COBRA - the complete Business Reference Advisor
Thinking of starting a business? COBRA is a comprehensive and continually updated resource for anyone looking to write a business or marketing plan, or conduct research into new markets. It contains around 4000 fact sheets, market reports, contacts and sources of funding and support.
CANS - accurate and up-to-date legal information on British and European law
Relevant and updated daily, this is a complete legal resource for anyone with a question about the rights and responsibilities associated with living and working in Britain. CANS legal information is produced for the non-legal specialist.
General Reference
Britannica Online
The world famous encyclopaedia now in three editions for children, students and the full library edition.
Credo Reference - easy to use tool for research projects and homework.
A giant online collection that searches hundreds of encyclopaedias, dictionaries, thesauri, quotations and subject specific titles as well as 200,000+ images and audio files and nearly 100 videos.
A comprehensive reference source addressing contemporary social issues. With more than sixty topics to choose from, Issues Online provides a wide range of information including: articles with news and views on each topic, key facts, key statistics, lobby group links, newspaper archives, reference sites, research guides and glossaries. Why spend hours trawling the web when Issues Online provides articles, statistics and links at your fingertips.
Oxford Reference Online Premium
Contains over 170 dictionary, language reference, and subject reference works published by Oxford University Press. It is a fully-indexed, cross-searchable database of these books, giving subscribers unprecedented access to a comprehensive information resource.
This comprehensive reference centre provides information on the history, peoples, beliefs, individuals and cultures that constitute the world of Islam.
The Oxford English Dictionary
The definitive dictionary of the English Language. It also traces the evolution of more than 600,000 words over the last 1,500 years through 2.5 million quotations from a wide range of sources: from classic literature and periodicals to film scripts and pop songs.
Oxford Language Dictionaries Online
The Oxford Language Dictionaries Online covers Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish. This resource contains fully searchable, comprehensive bilingual dictionaries together with study materials. The Oxford Language Web, a new feature offers translations in 13 languages including Arabic, Polish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Thai.
The Which? Magazine is now available as on online resource from Waltham Forest Libraries. Please visit your local library as this resource can only be accessed from within Waltham Forest libraries.
Which? is an independent charity, focused on providing unbiased consumer advice. Products such as televisions, fridges and mobile phones are tested and rated.
Which? Online and Which? Local are available in all our libraries, just ask a member of staff to log you on.
Newspapers
Newsbank
Contains full-text content of local and regional newspapers. Each newspaper has its own distinctive focus offering a variety of viewpoints on local and world issues. Paid advertisements are excluded.
Times Digital Archive
The complete digital edition of The Times (1785-1985) containing full facsimile images of specific articles or complete pages. Includes all articles, advertisements and illustrations/photos divided into categories to facilitate searching.
