Our Online Library

Reading

BorrowBox

Borrow up to 10 e-books, e-audio, and e-magazines. Automatically returned after 3 weeks. No overdue charges.

Go to BorrowBox

PressReader

Read newspapers and magazines from around the world. Revalidate login every 30 days.

Browse PressReader

Ukraine Unlimited Learning

Free reading and learning resources for Ukrainian families including 1,700+ Ukrainian titles.

Visit Website | iOS App | Android App

Entertainment

Freegal

Over 18 million songs, from current hits to blasts from the past, available to download and stream free. (For App users - search 'Essex Libraries UK' when prompted).

Go to Freegal | iOS App | Android App

Kanopy

Stream thousands of films and documentaries for free. Includes Kanopy Kids with parental controls.

Watch Kanopy

BFI Replay

Access 60 years of TV, documentaries, and multicultural content. Available in-library only.

Learn More

Free Courses

LinkedIn Learning

Over 24,000 free expert-led courses from career help to creative pursuits. No LinkedIn account needed. (For App users - Use Library ID 'essex-gov-uk' on your first sign in).

Driving Theory Test Pro

Essential practice for the official UK driving theory test.

Get Started

Transparent Language

Learn 80+ languages at your own pace, including child-friendly courses via Kidspeak.

Start Learning

GoCitizen

Prepare for the British citizenship or Life in the UK test.

Create Account

Learn My Way

Free digital skills courses covering devices, online basics, internet safety, and more.

Course List | Sign In

ACL Essex

Free interactive courses for parents, carers, and families across Essex.

View Courses

Gov.uk Skills

Official UK Government site for improving English, maths and IT skills.

Improve Skills

Digital Skills Directory

Explore free and paid digital skills programmes curated by Future.Now.

Browse Directory

Help Getting Online

Find free digital support near you on the Digital Essex map.

Find Support

Citizen Literacy

A literacy app for adults and ESOL learners blending phonics, grammar and punctuation.

Visit Site | iOS | Android

Biographical, Historical and Family History

Ancestry Institution

Explore census, birth, marriage and death records. Library-only access.

Visit Ancestry

Find My Past

Access family records and the 1921 Census. Library-only access.

Explore Records

British Newspaper Archive

Search digitised historic newspapers from all over the UK. Library-only access.

Search Archive

Guardian and Observer Archive

Read articles from 1791–2003. Home and library access.

View Archive

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Biographies of 60,000+ figures from Roman times to the 21st century.

Access Dictionary

Who's Who

Profiles of notable figures from 1849 to present. Library and home access.

Visit Who's Who

Lives of the First World War

Explore life stories of 8 million+ people who served during WWI.

Explore Lives

Your Family Tree

Guides and support to help you build your family history.

View Magazine

Quick Family Tree App

Create family trees easily on your phone. No account needed.

iOS | Android

Essex Record Office

Discover 1,000 years of local history documents, images and recordings.

Visit ERO

Business, Education & Reviews

Access to Research

Discover published academic research at your local library. Library-only access

Library Access

Oxford English Dictionary Online

Definitive record of English, with 600,000+ words and 3 million quotations.

Access OED

Essex County Council Business Support

Support and guidance for start-ups and growing businesses.

Visit ECC Business

British Library Business & IP Centre

Articles and workshops for entrepreneurs and innovators.

Visit BIPC

Met Police Anti-Fraud Guides

Free guides and videos to help avoid online fraud and cybercrime.

Access Guides

UCAS Support

Explore undergraduate and postgraduate course choices and support.

Visit UCAS

Discovering Literature

Literary treasures, manuscripts and contextual materials from the British Library.

Explore Resources