You can access local, national and international information at all libraries in Highland. Follow the link on the right to read our stock policy for reference and local history material. The most comprehensive collection is in the Reference Library at Inverness Library, Farraline Park (contact e-mail: invernessreference.library@highland.gov.uk), but in every community library you can access a range of electronic information services - equivalent to having a large city library on your doorstep.
Some of these services are listed below. In order to access them you are invited to become a member of your local library (see Your Local Library). We would recommend booking a session on a computer offering free internet access at your local library. Alternatively you can log on at home, using your library card to gain access to these web sites.
Am Baile, The Highland Council's bilingual website, discover the history and culture of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
KnowUK - an on-line library combining the contents of over 100 well known and useful reference books, and making them searchable in a user friendly way. Look at the Advanced Search option to see which publications are covered. KnowUK also gives you access to NewsUK.
NewsUK - this enables you to search for news articles in the on-line archives of Scottish and UK newspapers.
Credo Reference - over 300 digitised directories,
dictionaries and encyclopaedias.
Kompass UK - companies, products and services throughout the UK. To access this resource from your home computer, please click here.
World Book Online - on-line encyclopedia
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Now also available in different versions aimed at children and young people of school age:
Junior for 5 to 11 year olds
Student for 12 to 18 year olds
Oxford Music Online - a wealth of information on music, musicians and instruments. Includes Grove Music Online. Click on the "library barcode user" option, then type in the barcode number on your card.
DNB - the new Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
OED - Oxford English Dictionary.
NB: If you have problems getting into the Grove Music, DNB or the OED site and your borrower number begins 2801, replace the 1 with a 9 when you are prompted to enter it. This problem has arisen because of similarities between our borrower barcode numbers and those of another library service, and the publishers, Oxford University press, hope to have it fixed soon.
ECDL - you can access materials from our library computers which will help you to work towards the ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) qualification. This service is free. Ask library staff about getting a username and password. Other distance learning courses are also available including Computers for the terrified, a module for complete beginners.
CANS - CANS Advice Notes is a detailed and practical summary of the laws of Scotland, England and Wales. NB: If you are accessing CANS from a Highland Council or Peoples Network computer you do not need to logon as a subscriber. Go straight to searching the site. If accessing from home you will need to logon with your library card.
Which? - Highland Libraries can now offer access to Which? Online at Inverness Library only. This site provides expert, unbiased information to help you make the right choice, whatever you’re buying. Access is by subscriber login. Please ask Inverness Library staff to enter the username and password.
Who's Who - the essential directory of the noteworthy and influential in all walks of life, in the UK and worldwide. Plus Who Was Who: over 100,000 entries from the archives of Who’s Who dating back to 1898. NB: to access this site you need to enter the letters high before your library card number into the library card number field.
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