Free online resources
Free online Subscriptions you can view from home
COBRA: Complete Business Reference Advisor
COBRA contains all the information you need to turn your idea into a business. If you are thinking of working for yourself, COBRA has the information you need. With over 4,000 factsheets, sector guides, and more. Plus hundreds of practical guides for starting up more than 350 types of business.
You can access COBRA here
NewsBank
NewsBank gives access to UK and Ireland newspapers from 1982. Full-text content of local and regional newspapers are provided on an easy-to-search database.
Please note: When logging into NewsBank from the first login screen please select ‘No Username and Password. Click here for additional login options’ and enter name of Library authority (Staffordshire) and your Library Card number.
Britannica Library Edition 
Comprehensive and interactive digital learning content for all ages
Specifically developed for public libraries, Britannica Library contains comprehensive information for all ages.
With its junior, student and adult interfaces, this award winning online learning resource lets library users of all abilities access comprehensive and interactive e-learning information. With differentiated, age-appropriate content, readers can access resources that are engaging and safe.
Britannica Library’s Subject Browse tool covers numerous topics including arts, humanities, science and maths. And an online dictionary.
Britannica Library Junior (Age Group 5 to 10)
Britannica Library Student (Age Group 10 to 14)
Britannica Library Adult (Age Group 14 and Up)
Free Online Dictionary
Oxford Learner's Online Dictionary
Subscription only accessible at Your Library
These subscriptions are free to use, but can only be accessed at Your Library.
BFI Replay - Film and TV archive footage
Discover Film and TV history with BFI Replay.
Take a trip down memory lane with historic videos from the BBC and ITV .
Collections include historical events and classic TV shows such as Coronation Street. They also contain public information films, adverts, interviews with filmmakers, and much more.
BFI Replay is accessible via a link on library public access PCs
Access to Research Periodicals
Access to Research gives free, walk-in access to over 30 million academic articles. Subjects covered include the sciences, art, architecture, business, engineering, history, languages, politics, philosophy, mathematics and much, much more.
GoCitizen
GoCitizen is a study resource for people preparing for the Life in the UK test or British Citizenship test. Licensed from the Home Office, with:
- Online version of the latest official study materials licensed from the Home Office, the people who write the handbook
- Hundreds of practice test questions in the same format as the official test
- Additional interactive learning resources and teaching aids
Theory Test Pro
Theory Test Pro is a highly realistic online simulation of the UK's driving theory tests for all vehicle categories.
It contains all the official test questions licensed from the DVSA, the people who set the tests.
Ancestry - Library Edition
The leading genealogy resource on the internet packed full of records, to trace your family history, whether you are from Staffordshire or beyond.
Findmypast - Staffordshire Collection
Findmypast is one of the leading family history resources on the internet. The Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service has partnered with Findmypast to make some of the most popular Staffordshire sources available online.
British Newspaper Archive
The British Newspaper Archive allows users to search the largest collection of British and Irish historical newspapers online, covering nearly 300 years of history. This collection includes Staffordshire newspapers such as the Staffordshire Advertiser, Staffordshire Chronicle, Staffordshire Newsletter and Staffordshire Sentinel.