The library subscribes to a number of high quality research databases. We have organised them by topic to help you find what you need. These databases give library members free access to millions of authoritative articles, journals, images and other resources on every conceivable subject.
If you're looking for further online resources, you can become a member of the State Library of New South Wales. All NSW residents can sign up for free and access their extensive range of online resources from anywhere.
Please note: We have recently added a new suite of research databases from Gale. You will find these new resources under the following topics below - history, general reference, health, book reviews & resources, business, science & environment and newspapers.
Family History
Ancestry
Ancestry Library Edition is a huge subscription database, similar to the popular Ancestry.com, which you can use to trace your ancestors. Searches over 4000 databases including Australian convict index, Australian electoral rolls, United Kingdom census records, British Army World War 1 pension records, United States census records and much more.
Northern Beaches Library members can access Ancestry.com, for free, from the public computers in each library branch.
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Find My Past
Find My Past features records from the United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, Canada and Australia.
Northern Beaches Library members can access Find My Past, for free, from the public computers in each library branch.
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Social Support
Ask Izzy
Ask Izzy can help you find the right services you need when you're looking for support. It is a free database with over 360,000 services available to search through including housing, meals, healthcare, counselling, legal advice, addiction treatment and more. Searches are anonymous.
Law
AustLII
AustLII (Australasian Legal Information Institute) provides access to: legislation (Commonwealth and States), treaties, decisions of courts and tribunals, law reform and Royal Commission reports, Federal Courts (High Court, Family Court, etc.)
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Find Legal Answers
Find Legal Answers web guide provides access to current information and resources about the law in NSW.
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Gale OneFile: Criminal justice
Comprehensive periodical content for researchers studying law, law enforcement, forensic science, terrorism, and more.
Legal Information - Hot Topics
Hot Topics from the State Library of New South Wales (SLNSW) is a plain language series about recent changes and current debates in the law. This information is part of the SLNSW online legal information.
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Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics covers statistics on Australia’s states, major cities and towns, and local government areas.
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UNdata
A single entry point for accessing all United Nations statistical information. Includes links to country data services. Covers a wide range of areas including agriculture, crime, education, employment, energy, environment, health, HIV/AIDS, human development, industry, information and communication technology, national accounts, population, refugees, tourism and trade.
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History
Australian Dictionary of Biography
The Australian Dictionary of Biography features concise, informative and fascinating descriptions of the lives of significant and representative persons in Australian history.
Gale in context: Biography
This database provides contextual information on the world’s most influential people. Over 650,000 biographical entries cover a range of historically significant figures and present-day news makers.
Gale in context: World History
This database is designed to provide an overview of world history covering the most-studied events, cultures, civilizations, religions and more.
Trove Australia
Trove Australia searches books, newspapers, pictures, diaries, maps, music and websites to find the information you need.
General Reference
Britannica Library
This resource contains content from Encyclopedia Britannica, the world's premier English language encyclopedia.
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Community Directory
The LINCS database is a directory of local community services and groups, covering areas such as leisure, education, social welfare and sport across the Northern Beaches, Sydney and beyond.
Cultural Atlas
This resource provides comprehensive information on the cultural backgrounds of Australia’s largest migrant populations. It includes explanations of the common cultural attitudes, practices, norms, behaviours, social structures, etiquettes and communication styles within different countries.
Gale General OneFile
Access general interest magazines and key serials in a single resource. Best for general research.
Gale in context: Global issues
Analyse important global issues and events through topic overviews, international viewpoints, news and multimedia content.
Gale in context: Opposing viewpoints
This database is designed to present opposing viewpoints of prominent issues. You will find summaries, news and opinions on hundreds of today's important social issues.
Gale OneFile: Australia and New Zealand
Use the Topic Finder, Subject Guide Search and Publication Search to explore a range of topics based on your interests.
Gale OneFile: Culinary Arts
Find a variety of information from major cooking and nutrition magazines as well as key reference titles.
Gale OneFile: Home Improvement
Search home improvement topics such as architectural techniques, tool and material selection, zoning requirements, and more.
Gale OneFile: Pop Culture Studies
Access scholarly journals and magazines that both analyse and contribute to popular culture.
Gale OneFile: Gardening and Horticulture
Find millions of articles on the practical and scientific aspects of horticulture studies. For all horticultural enthusiasts.
GOV.AU
GOV.AU is an information portal that covers state, territory and federal public sector agencies and politicians throughout Australia.
National Construction Code
National Construction Code online. Access is free but you will need to register.
Health
Drug information from the State Library of New South Wales
Drug information from the State Library of New South Wales (SLNSW) provides up to date information on alcohol and other drugs.
Gale Health and Wellness
In this comprehensive database, you can access full-text medical journals, magazines, reference works, multimedia and much more.
Book Reviews & Resources
Gale Books and Authors
A readers' advisory database for the discovery of books by author, genre and topic.
Good Reading Hub for Book Lovers
The Good Reading Hub for Book Lovers is an Australian website where you will discover the popular monthly magazine Good Reading, exclusive articles, independent reviews, information about new books as well as old favourites, daily book news and podcasts. Simply everything about books is in the Good Reading Hub.
Literature Resource Centre
This database from the Gale suite offers a large, representative range of authors and their works, including an in-depth collection of full-text critical and literary analysis.
Whichbook
Whichbook gives the opportunity to make choices such as plot shape, type of main character, country the book is set in. This website starts from the reader and enables each individual to build the elements of the 'good read' they are looking for but don't quite know how to define.
Business
Gale Business Insights: Global
Access detailed company and industry profiles including SWOT reports, market share reports, financial reports and company histories. Plus review case studies, scholarly journals and business news.
Science & Environment
Gale in context: Environmental studies
This database provides authoritative reference content in the areas of the environment, energy and natural resources.
Gale in context: Science
This comprehensive database aids understanding and provides context for hundreds of science topics through journals, news, interactive experiments and more.
Gale Interactive Science
Manipulate 3D interactive models to visualise and understand concepts in biology, chemistry, earth and space science.
National Geographic Kids
Explore amazing adventures in science, nature, culture, archaeology and space through National Geographic Kids.
National Geographic Virtual Library
Access the complete archive of National Geographic magazine along with a cross-searchable collection of books, maps, images and videos.
Newspapers
Gale Onefile: News
Access major newspapers online with Gale News. You can search articles instantly by title, headline, date or other fields.
This database provides access to more than 2,300 major world newspapers, including over 400 Australian newspapers. You can also access thousands of images, radio and TV broadcasts with transcripts.
Trove Newspapers
Access historic Australian newspapers from 1803 to 1954, digitised as part of the Trove Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program from the National Library of Australia.
HSC Resources
HSC research guides
The HSC research guides from the State Library of New South Wales, brings together essential resources for studying Preliminary and HSC subjects.
These resources will assist students find relevant content for English, Society and Culture and Modern History.
Studiosity
Studiosity is an online tutoring service offering just-in-time homework and study help to students in years 3-12, in English, maths, science, research and study skills. To access Studiosity, use your library card number and PIN to log in.
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Study support through TSFX
TSFX is an online service helping students to optimise their HSC results.
This innovative service offers a multitude of resources that are designed to enhance student performance and reduce the stresses and pressures that many students experience during their final years at school.
