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:
- Brackley
- Brixworth
- Daventry
- Duston
- Hunsbury
- Northamptonshire Central
- Towcester
- Weston Favell
Not all articles listed on Access to Research can be viewed for free.
Downloading or saving onto portable storage devices is not permitted.
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.
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 Brixworth, Northamptonshire Central and Towcester Libraries.
Due to licensing requirements Fame is not available through home access.
Grantfinder
Featuring over 8,000 continually updated funding opportunities, Grantfinder enables you to identify, apply for and manage funding.
Grantfinder is available at Brixworth, Northamptonshire Central and Towcester Libraries.
Due to licensing requirements, Grantfinder is not available through home access.
IBIS World market research reports
IBIS World is a global market research database providing statistics and expert analysis on industries, countries, consumers and companies. IBIS World is available at Brixworth, Northamptonshire Central and Towcester Libraries.
Due to licensing requirements, IBIS World is not available through home access.
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 Brixworth, Northamptonshire Central and Towcester Libraries
Due to licensing requirements, Local Data is not available through home access.
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 (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.
Statista
Worldwide resource containing reports, statistics, outlooks and infographics for industries in over 150 countries.
Statista is available at Brixworth, Northamptonshire Central and Towcester Libraries
Due to licensing requirements, Statista is not available through home access.
Free websites
Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property or IP can help you protect your business ideas to prevent others from using them without your permission.
Registering your business
Information on registering your business as a limited company. Free company name search provided.
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
Information about business plan content, including templates and online tools (Registration may be required).
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.com.
Raising finance for your business
The UK's first 'social merchant bank,' by social entrepreneurs, for social entrepreneurs.
The UK national trade association representing private investors or a group of investors looking for opportunities to invest money in enterprises.
Provides advice and business loans to pre-start and existing business owners throughout the East Midlands.
Provides loans to new and existing businesses that have been refused finance by mainstream lenders.
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.
We link new ideas and opportunities with expertise, markets and finance through our network of businesses, universities, funders and investors.
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 providers offer simple, affordable loans when the bank can't help.
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.
Small business advice, business ideas and information on starting a business.
Building your online skills and digital strategy
e-business online course.
Get the digital skills you need to grow your business.
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.
Represents around 1,000 Northamptonshire businesses, who employ over 1/3 of the county's workforce.
Working in collaboration with local authority and private sector partners, SEMLEP aims to deliver the strategic infrastructure and skills projects that are essential for economic growth – new jobs and new homes – in this area.
SEMLEP's Growth Hub offers business support to growing businesses.
General business start-up resources - national
Set up over 40 years ago, the British Franchise Association (BFA) is the original and largest not-for-profit trade association for franchising in the UK.
Information for businesses and individuals that need to know about trading standards legislation.
The CITB supports the skills needs of the British construction sector.
Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to supporting individuals, start ups and businesses.
Series of videos helping businesses understand IP and some of the areas around it.
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.
Scheme run by the Law Society offering a free consultation on legal requirements relating to your business.
Community businesses trade primarily for the benefit of their community. The Plunkett Foundation provides support and resources for community businesses.
Press Gazette: company profiles
Searchable database listing over 5 million UK limited companies.
Supporting business creation by 18 to 30 year olds.
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
Basic information on establishing co-operatives.
Social enterprise East Midlands
A partnership of organisations from the community, voluntary, enterprise, government and regional development sectors of the East Midlands.
Business office space
Details of thousands of serviced offices in the United Kingdom.
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.
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.
The Prime Office Space search facility allows you to search for serviced, managed, temporary, flexible and traditional office space to let.
Search all types of office space nationally, whatever the size of your business; whether you need a single desk, or space for 100 desks.
Business networking organisations
Open to businesses in the Corby District and surrounding villages including Weldon, Rockingham, Gretton, Cottingham, Middleton, East Carlton, Stanion, and Little Stanion.
Digital Northants is a collaboration between local digital businesses, the University of Northampton, and Northamptonshire councils designed to support digital innovation in and around Northamptonshire.
Business community for businesses based in Kettering, Desborough, Rothwell, Burton Latimer and surrounding villages.
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.
Support network for all pre-start, new and established businesses.
North Northants Business Network
The North Northants Business Network acts as an interface between the business community in Kettering, Corby, East Northants and Wellingborough, North Northamptonshire Council and both the education and charity sectors.
Represents around 1,000 Northamptonshire businesses, who employ over 1/3 of the county's workforce.
Monthly social networking evenings discussing business matters and local issues.
A supportive community of around 150 small business owners with regular networking groups in Northants and the surrounding counties.
Wellingborough Business Network
Connecting businesses in Wellingborough and villages in the surrounding area.
Statistics
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Free websites
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 is a destination for learning and word discovery. It provides resources for schoolwork and careers.
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 is a free, web-based encyclopaedia.
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.
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.
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.
Central database for UK burials and cremations with free search facility.
Northamptonshire Libraries does not subscribe to subscription resources on this website.
Search and explore historical record collections and more in United Kingdom and Ireland, England.
Free access to birth, marriage and death records from 1837 onwards.
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.
Link to order birth, death or marriage certificates online.
Gateway to UK genealogy websites in the UK and Ireland.
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.
The official website for Scottish genealogy resources.
Northamptonshire Libraries does not subscribe to subscription resources on this website.
Free collaborative website with the mission of creating a worldwide family tree.
Northamptonshire heritage resources - towns and villages
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.
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.
History of the village of Cottingham.
Collection of online archives compiled by the Rushden Research Group relating to the history of the town. Also includes Higham Ferrers and surrounding villages.
Irthlingborough (Irthlingborough Historical Society)
Online resources and information about publications produced by the society relating to the history of the town.
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 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.
An online resource for every public art collection in the United Kingdom featuring over 200,000 oil paintings.
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.
British Library: online gallery
Discover the riches of the British Library: locate thousands of old maps; view virtual books; enjoy online exhibitions.
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.
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.
Digital library of local and trade directories for England and Wales, from 1750 to 1919. Part of Leicester University's Special Collections Online.
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.
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.
The UK Web Archive started in 2004 and contains thousands of websites that publish research, that reflect the diversity of lives, interests and activities throughout the UK.
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 The Sir Henry Dryden collection which is located in Northamptonshire Central Library. The physical collection includes Dryden's drawings, plans, and notes.
The Victoria County History was started in 1899 and is an encyclopaedic record of England's counties. A number of volumes can be read online for free.
National museums and art galleries - digital collections
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
Science Museum Group (Science, Science Media, Science & Industry, Railway, Locomotion)
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
A project to commemorate, by street address, the deaths of men and women who died while serving in World War 1.
Discover the history of the First World War and updates from the BBC on the World War 1 Centenary season.
British Library: World War One
Supported by over 500 historical sources from across Europe, this resource examines key themes in the history of World War One.
First World War poetry digital archive
University of Oxford's online repository of over 7000 items of text, images, audio, and video for teaching, learning, and research.
University of Oxford's Great War Archive contains over 6,500 items contributed by the general public between March and June 2008. Every item originates from, or relates to, someone's experience of the First World War, either abroad or at home.
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.
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 website dedicated to men and women killed fighting for their country.
This digitised collection from the Cambridge University Digital Library makes available online for the first time 23 of Sassoon's journals.
Aims to further interest in the Great War 1914 to 1918.
Transparent Language Online
Transparent Language Online provides an effective and engaging experience for language learners looking to build their vocabulary, practice their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, and maintain what they learn.
With courses and supplemental resources in 110+ languages, including English for speakers of over 30 languages, there is something for every learner. Transparent Language Online can be accessed through the website or on the app.
Due to licensing terms, you will be required to register for free to use the website. Please click on Sign Up and enter your library card (type D before the number) in the 'library card number' box.
Visit the Transparent Language Online website.
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 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'.
Useful websites
Reading guides
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 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 Ukrainian titles and 500 in English, for both adults and children.
Literary organisations
Reading and writing charity, which gives millions of books away to children and offers support to readers and writers.
Gives independent publishers the support they need to get the most out of publishing and keep their businesses growing.
National charity dedicated to raising literacy levels in the United Kingdom.
Aims to advance the study, use and enjoyment of poetry.
Trade organisation serving book, journal, audio and electronic publishers in the UK.
Charity organisation, which runs creative programmes to help people feel inspired and confident about reading.
Trade union representing writers in TV, radio, theatre, books, poetry, film, online and video games.
Supports, promotes and champions writing from the East Midlands.
Subscription resources
Media
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.
PressReader: eNewspapers
Free instant same-day access to thousands of newspapers and magazines worldwide, including UK national daily and weekend titles through PressReader.
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.
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
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
Last updated 21 March 2024