Websites for library members
We provide access to library members to a number of subscription websites. Some of these can be accessed from your home, whilst others are only available on computers in our libraries.
Websites accessible from your home
Birmingham Ancestry
Records provided by Archives and Collections relating to Birmingham are available access at home on Ancestry. You do not need library membership to access this service. Ancestry Institution can only be accessed via a library.
British Library 19th century newspapers collections
A wide range of news articles from local and regional newspapers that reflect the social, political, and cultural events of the nineteenth century. This collection illuminates diverse and distinct regional attitudes and cultures of the period.
You will need a Birmingham library membership number to access this service from home.
COBRA
COBRA includes information for businesses on start-up, legal, employment, marketing, exporting, finance, health and safety, plus exhibitions and events and many useful links in the Local Area Profile.
You will need a Birmingham library membership number to access this service from home.
GALE ONEFILE News and Reference Powersearch
A wide searchable database of current articles and modern content from local and national newspapers, magazines, journals and reference books. A great resource for home study. Includes full text, image and video content.
You will need a Birmingham library membership number to access this service from home.
Go Citizen
Help with 'Life in the UK' test and British citizenship tests.
You will need a Birmingham library membership number to access this service from home.
Government Information
A wealth of government information and official publications can be found and freely viewed at https://www.gov.uk/, https://gov.wales/, http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/ and https://www.gov.scot/
Newsbank
Explore diverse perspectives and stay informed on local, national and global topics, people and events in areas such as business, health, education, environment, political and social issues and more. Features a wide variety of credible, vetted news sources from more than 200 countries, including The Sunday Times, Guardian, Daily Mirror, and a host of journals including Autosport, BBC Good Food, Campaign, Radio Times and much more!
You will need a Birmingham library membership number to access this service from home.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Over 60,000 biographies and 11,000 portraits all accessible from home.
You will need a Birmingham library membership number to access this service from home.
Theory Test Pro
Prepare for your Driving Theory Test with this online test site. If you are experiencing difficulty accessing this site through Internet Explorer, try a different web browser, for example Firefox or Google Chrome.
You will need a Birmingham library membership number to access this service from home.
Websites accessible only from computers in our libraries
Access To Research
Free, searchable access to a wide range of academic articles and research. Subjects include art, architecture, business, engineering, history, languages, politics, philosophy, mathematics and the sciences.
Only one printed copy of an article allowed for research purposes.
Ancestry Institution
Trace your family history using records from England, Scotland and Wales censuses from 1841 to 1911, birth, marriage and death records and UK parish and probate record.
Which?Online
Available at the Library of Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield Library. Ask staff members to log you into the site.
Page last updated: 10 November 2023
