Information in your library
Leicestershire County Council Library Services has a wealth of accessible, reliable information for all your needs - homework, research, reference, projects, business, pub quiz or leisure. It’s an amazing resource and all for FREE! For example:
- FREE book loans
- FREE use of computers
- FREE broadband Internet access
- FREE access to a wide range of online information resources
- access to quick reference collections to be used in the library
- access to telephone directories
- details of local learning opportunities
- books on education, careers and jobs
- information about colleges and courses.
Consumer Information
All our libraries hold a current edition of Which? magazine for reference use in the library. Please ask a member of library staff if you want to use Which? Online to access current and back copies of Which? reports on the Internet.
Please note that we have a limited subscribtion to Which Online and therefore you may not be able to view all the Which reports.
TopEnquire - ask a question 24/7 service 
If you want to chat online to a librarian straightaway, you can send your question to Enquire the national online enquiry service. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It works like an instant messaging or chat room technology, allowing you to put questions to trained staff who can help you, just as they would if you were talking to them face-to-face or on the phone.
A 24/7 professional service managed by librarians form public libraries in the UK and North America - ask any question at anytime of the day - logon to
www.leics.gov.uk/libraries or click on the Enquire logo.
Internet Links Library
The Internet Links Library is a quick and easy way to find useful websites organised by subject categories. Logon to
www.leics.gov.uk/internet and click on:
Internet Links.
TopWork & Learning
Visit our major libraries in Leicestershire to consult books on following subjects:
Education: General Information, Which School, Adult Education, Further and Higher Education, Money to Study, Education Abroad and many others
Careers: General Information, Jobsearch Skills, Careers 16 - 18, Training Opportunities, Vacation Employment, Working Abroad, Working for Yourself, Changing your Career and Voluntary Work.
Other information that may help you
- Adult Learning Services : website link if you are looking for local adult education classes to attend.
- Infolinx: website link to Community Information Service if you are looking for a local schools, WEA groups, jobs within local councils etc.
- Inspire web page: information about accessing collections held in other public libraries, higher education or specialist libraries in the UK. This is a free service.
- Jobs4U Careers Database: website link offering information on occupations and job case studies for young people.
- Connexions Direct: website link to information and advice for young people
Online reference titles
You can access following online titles on Education, Courses and Careers either in the library or from home:
Online reference titles: Primary and Secondary Education
Online reference titles: Further and Higher Education
Online reference titles: Courses & Careers
TopLegal Information
You can access following online reference titles on Legal Information either in the library or from home:
Use our Community Information Service (
Infolinx) if you are looking for a local Citizens Advice Bureau.
TopLocal Information
Find out local community information - logon to
www.infolinx.org- local groups, clubs and societies
- tutors or local speakers
- jobs in local government
- events and places to visit
- local facts and statistics
- contact details of elected representatives – Councillors, MPs, MEPs etc
- local doctors and dentists lists
- local schools & colleges and schools Ofsted reports plus much more.
TopMaps and Travel Information
Plan your holiday or outing with:
- OS maps
- holiday & travel guides
- local bus timetables
- hotel & accommodation guides
- foreign language guides.
You can also use our online reference library to access popular UK travel guides by accessing
KnowUK Online service.
Ordnance Survey Mapping Service
Do you require an Ordnance Survey map for a planning application?
You can now purchase a large-scale site centred Ordnance Survey maps suitable for:
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Planning Applications
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Conveyancing
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Presentations and Reports
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Insurance Claims
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Home Referencing
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Property Location Plans
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Visit any one of the participating libraries listed below to purchase a Sitemap:
- There is a charge for this service and all site-centred maps are sold as paper copies.
- A Sitemap planning pack contains 6 copies of site-centred map for one location.
- The cost of this service is £25 for 1:1250 scale map.
For more information about this service visit our
OS Mapping Service webpage.
TopOnline Reference Library www.leics.gov.uk/reference
The
Online Reference Library provides free access to a whole range of information websites that Leicestershire Library Services subscribes to:
General & Subject Reference
Encyclopedia Britannica Library Edition - Junior, Student and 18+
A three level encyclopedia designed for primary and secondary school students as well as for adults. Discover appropriate level articles, video clips, images, illustration, timelines and other material to help you with your projects or just for fun.
Oxford English Dictionary
A definitive guide to the meaning, history and pronunciations of English words. Ideal for solving crossword puzzles by searching words with missing letters or based on their definitions.
Oxford Reference OnlineA vast online reference library available 24/7 to answer all your queries.
Search across 25 subjects areas. Use English and bilingual dictionaries. Explore Timelines link to events in 20
th century. View images - many in full colour.
Oxford DNB
A unique resource that describes
biographies of people who have shaped the British past over the last 2000 years.
Grove Art
The most comprehensive online resource on all aspects of the visual arts worldwide, from prehistory to the present day. Contains articles, colour images, drawings, links to worldwide galleries and museums.
Grove Music
The ultimate authority on all aspects of music worldwide from classical to hip-hop and from Bach to the Blues. Plus biographies and links to sound archives, illustrations and musical examples.
KnowUK
A ready made online reference library with over 100 key reference titles such as Whitaker’s Almanac, Ask Hollis, Who’s Who, Which Guides etc.
Newspapers & Magazines
NewsUK offers articles from national and regional UK newspapers both current and past; broad range of views and opinions on a news story; information on local and national events; and magazine articles.
Library access only to these websites:
Family History - Ancestry Library Edition: Free access to this genealogical website from any library in Leicestershire. A brilliant resource if you are interested in starting your family tree.
Consumer Reports - Which? Online: Libraries have a limited access to online Which? Check consumer reports for best buys.
Book Search - Nielsen BookData Online: Search Bookfind Online in many ways - by title, author, subject etc. – using over 2 million book titles.
Music search - Searchmuze: Find your favourite music by artist, title, album, format, music track etc.
TopAccess the Online Reference Library from home or in the library
From Home
- logon to: www.leics.gov.uk/reference
- click on the ‘Home’ link under the resource you want to use
- a separate login webpage opens
- enter your library card number.
Please note that to use Oxford Online products you need to type letters LCC followed by your library card number. If you are holding either an 8 or 12 digits library card, you would enter as follows: LCC12345678 or LCCDD123456789012
In the Library
- logon to access the internet
- libraries home page opens
- under ‘Internet & Computing’ heading - click on ‘Reference Library’ link
- click on the ‘Library Access’ link under the resource you want to use
e-mail page to a friend