Online Resources
Welcome to Aberdeen Library & Information Services Online Resources
Online Databases available by remote access from your home PC and within libraries
With a valid Aberdeen City Library card you can access these databases from home or elsewhere via the Internet. Go to the resource you wish to view by clicking on the appropriate logo and you will be asked to enter your card number. Enter the number in full with no spaces. If using an Accord Card leave off the last two digits.
Not a member? Find out how at Library Membership
NEW!!
GoCitizen.co.uk is an online study resource for candidates preparing for the Life in the UK test or British citizenship test.
Britannica Online
Versatile encyclopedia available in three versions to cater for all ages:
For ages 5 - 11
For ages 12 - 18
For ages 18+
This wide ranging resource enables users to find authoritative answers fast. It features content from hundreds of reference books in a broad range of subjects which can also be viewed in French, Spanish, Polish, Arabic and Chinese (Simplified). For puzzle aficionados there is a very useful crossword / anagram solver.
Why not try the
CREDO Weekly Brainteaser The answers are all in CREDO and it's fun. Sign up (at bottom of the page) to get the quiz by email
Download
Credo Reference Guide (PDF 3.6MB)
Exodus is a resource from Careers Europe provided for UK citizens wishing to study, train, work, take time out or live outside the UK. Information is provided about countries, the opportunities they may offer and on the people and life within them.
Download
Exodus Guide (PDF 2.3MB)
Kompass Global is a business to business database with more than 3 million international and domestic companies listed. Worldwide it provides details of over one million trade names and 23 million products and services. Mailing lists in CSV format, including company addresses, contact details and executives names, can be downloaded on your behalf at 5 pence per record (minimum charge 5 Pounds). Contact the Information Service (details at bottom of page)for further details or assistance.
Download
Kompass Guidefor users (PDF 2.35MB)
Download eBooks and Audiobooks to your computer, iPod, iPad, Mobile Phone or eBook reader. Browse the website, add selections to your basket, check out and download all from the comfort of your own home. All you need is your library card number and your PIN. Don't know your PIN? Submit a
PIN Request form and we aim to respond as soon as possible within working hours.
Aberdeen City Libraries has an agreement with Aberdeenshire libraries to allow our members to download titles from the Aberdeenshire Libraries site through the drop down list or via the link on the right of the page. Just select which library you wish to use and then enter your library card number and PIN number to browse and download the titles of your choice
Oxford Reference Online is a collection of reference works which includes, in a single cross-searchable resource, encyclopedias, subject dictionaries and language dictionaries from the publishing stable of Oxford University Press.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB)An illustrated collection of more than 57,000 specially written biographies of the men and women from around the world who shaped all aspects of Britain's past.New entries are added three times yearly. Download
Dictionary of National Biography User Guide (PDF 4MB)
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. Find the meaning, history and pronunciation of over 600.000 English words - past and present.
Click on "Sign In" then enter card number in "Library Card Number" box.
Download
Oxford English Dictionary User Guide (PDF 1.5MB)
NEW!!
With up-to-date online dictionaries, thesauruses and language reference content, Oxford Dictionaries Pro is an extensive, integrated, smart-linked English language resource. It offers quick search access to definitions of words, phrases, and idioms, with expert guidance on style and usage, grammar, and spelling; plus specialist guides for legal and technical writing.
For guidance on making best use of this resource go to the
Oxford Dictionaries Pro Tour. You can watch a 5 minute PowerPoint presentation or take in three short videos.
Newspapers Databases
Newsstand offers a full text searchable database of UK and Irish national and local newspapers. A full list of the over 150 currently available titles can be viewed online. Most UK titles are archived for at least 3 years and many for longer. The titles are regularly updated with news stories appearing within 1 - 3 days of publication.
Download the
Proquest Newsstand Guide here. (PDF 3.5MB)
The Scotsman Digital Archive. Here you can search every edition published between 1817 and 1950. Find significant moments in the history of Scotland, major historical worls events or discover if your ancestor appears in our births, marriages and deaths notices, or even in a news story.
Download the
Scotsman User Guide here. (PDF 1.25MB)
Enter the Proquest site by clicking on the logo above then, to access UK Newsstand, choose the "News" graphic and click on "UK Newsstand". For the Scotsman, place the cursor over any of the "Subject Area" graphics and click on "Proquest Historical Newspapers: The Scotsman".
This collection contains full runs of 48 newspapers specially selected by the British Library to represent nineteenth century Britain and includes the Aberdeen Journal.
Download the
19th. Century British Library Newspapers user guide here (PDF 1.36MB)
Online language learning from the comfort of your own home
• English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Dutch
• Build upon and evaluate your reading, writing, speaking, listening and cultural skills
• Wide variety of learning tools including speech recognition software
How to use this resource:
• Quick and easy access once registered
• Register and download the Auralog software - only required on first visit
• Each registration activates a licence which will last for a year. Please do not activate a licence if you do not wish to use the course.
• Microphone & speakers essential
More information about Tell Me More can be found here http://www.tellmemore.com/customers_saying
This database is a very realistic online simulation of thge UK's driving theory test. It contains the entire official test question bank licensed from the DSA, the people who set the tests. Log on and set up your free personal account.
Download
Theory Test Pro Guide (PDF 1.36MB)
'Who Else Writes Like' is now available for the first time online and is designed to help anyone who enjoys reading fiction to expand the number of writers they read. It is designed to answer the perennial question "I've read all the books by my favourite authors, who shall I read next?"
Who Next? can help you, if you have enjoyed books by a particular writer, to find new books to try by suggesting alternative titles by other authors. There are various ways of searching - by author, age group, genre and theme. Details of children's book awards are also listed.
Who's Who and Who Was Who
offers online access to over 30,000 short biographies of living notable individuals, from all walks of life and over 10,000 entries from the archives dating back to 1898. Find details including full name, titles if any, D.O.B. birth date and (if applicable) date of death, family history, education, honours, career history, publications and contact details
| The User Guides above are all in the Adobe Acrobat PDF format and you will require the free Adobe Reader to open them. It can be freely obtained by clicking on the icon. N.B. The largest of these guides is over 3MBs. and they may be slow to open. |
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Online Databases Available within the Central Library
From the Directory of Social Change (DSC), this database has information on over 3,500 trusts which provide funding for individuals in need for educational and welfare purposes. Search for relevant trusts by entering criteria.
Also from DSC. Details of almost 600 companies and what sort of donations and community support they are likely to fund.
Citizen's Advice Notes (CANS) covers social legislation and provides a good source of initial guidance on many issues. Scots Law, where it differs, is fully explained.
Researching your next holiday? Then search Gazetteers.com free in the Information Centre on the Central Library. Information included ranges from detailed country data such as health and visa rquirements to independently researched resort & accommodation reviews.
SpecialistInfo provides information on over 43,000 General Practitioners and over 42,000 Consultants within the UK. GPs. can be searched for by name or practice and Consultants by name, hospital or health trust. The site also provides a listing of Charity and Support Groups websites with links.
The Times Digital Archive gives access to 200 years of the London Times from 1785 to 1985.
SCRAN provides access to quality images, sounds, movies and learning resources. There are over 300,000 images from libraries, museums, galleries and archives on a large range of subjects from sport to government and architecture and more.
Free access to the online content of the popular consumer magazine "Which" is available in the Information Centre within the Central Library. Which Online is also available at the Kincorth Customer Access Point and at Cornhill, Culter, Cults, Dyce and Ferryhil Community Libraries. Over 700 reports are available. Prices and Best Buys are updated monthly in many of the most popular areas from vacuum cleaners to MP3 players, sat navs to washing machines.
Online Business Databases Available within the Central Library
In addition to the Kompass database which is available to members remotely (see above), we have other online resources which are available only in the Information Centre in the Central Library.
info4localgov
A Portal for core UK technical standards, documents and legislation.
Datamonitor is an online source of company, industry and country information.
Hoovers Online
Over 88 million business records worldwide. Includes family tree, in-depth financial and competitor information. Information on companies can be downloaded in Excel or CSV formats. Printed company reports are charged at 20p. per page if collected from the library and, likewise, if posted, but with a minimum charge of 5 Pounds. Tailored mailing lists can be supplied at 5p. per company (minimum charge 5 Pounds)
Family History Online Available in Central and all Community Libraries
Ancestry Library Edition is now available free on the PCs. in the Information Centre of the Central Library and in all Community Libraries. Ancestry is one of the most popular family history websites, offering access to billions of names and thousands of searchable databases. These collections cover mainly the United States but also other countries including Scotland. They include historical records, stories & publications, photographs & maps, family trees & message boards and charts & forms. Search hints and tips are available to help you use the website.
Download
Ancestry Library edition User Guide (PDF 1.4MB)
Walk-In Users Service at Aberdeen University Library
Users of our databases may be interested to know about the Walk-In Users Service offered to the public by Aberdeen University Library. Walk-In users have access to many of the University Library's extensive range of full-text and bibliographic databases under these headings:
- Cross Disciplinary
- Business, Law and Social Sciences
- Humanities
- Sciences
Details of what is available, how to make use of the service and the conditions of use can be found at Aberdeen University Walk-In Users
Terms of Use
If you are in any doubt as to what you can legally download or print, please refer to the "Terms of Use" (Slightly different terminology may be used) for the database you are using. Usually found at the bottom of the database's main page, most will be similar in content to the CREDO Reference Terms of Use (click to view).
Contact
For further information, for assistance, or to arrange a Taster Session on using any of the databases please contact Information Services:
- Information Centre
Central Library
Rosemount Viaduct
Aberdeen, AB25 1GW
Tel 01224 652511
Fax. 01224 624118
InformationCentre@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Opening Times
Monday & Wednesday 9am to 8pm
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 9am to 5pm
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