47 Digital Resources

Extensive coverage of the sciences, technology, medicine, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects.

Discover a comprehensive selection of authoritative periodicals and scholarly journals. Disciplines include: Biology, Chemistry, Criminal Justice, Economics, Environmental Science, History, Marketing, Political Science and Psychology.

A resource for family history researchers.

Enter names and places where your ancestors might have lived. View images of documents such as census records. Visit the Central Library and Community Libraries.

The link will only work if you use a library computer or a device connected through the library wi-fi.

Art market information for Australian and New Zealand forthcoming auctions, past auction results from 1969 to the present, market statistics, news and opinion.

The Australian Art Sales Digest is a database of over 650,000 works of art by more than 12,000  artists who are listed as having either lived or worked in Australia or New Zealand  and an additional 36,000 other artists,   that have had art offered for sale by auction in Australia and New Zealand over the last 30 years.  The AASD is an indispensable tool for valuers,  art consultants, auctioneers  and collectors.    

A great starting point for anybody researching notable figures in history.

Biography In Context offers authoritative reference content alongside magazine and journal articles, primary sources, videos, audio podcasts, and images. Covering a vast array of people from historically significant figures to present-day newsmakers, it’s continuously updated to ensure students have access to the latest information.

The online home for deep analysis of the big issues facing New Zealand today: housing, inequality, climate change, child poverty, the environment, migration, financial crisis, and more.

One authoritative resource of life on these islands, from earliest beginnings to present day. Comprising 90+ titles from over 30 years of history and biography publishing from Bridget Williams Books.

This popular encyclopedia is available for library customers to use online.

Britannica provides timely, relevant and trustworthy information. Choose your level and get started.

Essential business information from around the world. Includes detailed company and industry profiles, market share and financial reports.

Provides access to leading business and technical publications in the computer, telecommunications, and electronics industries.

This database includes more than 600 journals and periodicals, providing information on computer-related product introductions, news and reviews in areas such as hardware, software, electronics, engineering, communications, and the application of technology.

Articles on women’s issues including social, environmental, educational, and family concerns with an international focus.

Coverage includes thousands of searchable recipes, restaurant reviews, and industry information.

Previously the Small Business Resource Center.

Coverage includes all aspects of starting and operating a business, including accounting, finance, human resources, management, marketing, tax, and more. It combines authoritative periodical and reference content to support prospective and current entrepreneurs as well as business students. Resources include; sample business plans, how to guides, articles, and websites.

Previously GREENR (Global Reference on the Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources).

This database focuses on the physical and social aspects of environmental issues. Users can search the information to learn about diverse subjects such as climate change, food security, land and water use, populations and tourism.

A database that answers inquiries about environmental concerns with coverage of more than 5.4 million articles from more than 300 journals and books.​​

A family history and genealogy website containing over 550 million family history records.

A constantly updated family history and genealogy website containing over 550 million family history records. Available at the Central Library's second floor.

The link will only work if you use a library computer.

This collection will provide support for research in areas such as drama, music, art history, and film-making.

A database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.​​

This collection provides information for gardening enthusiasts and professionals.

This collection includes eBooks on getting started with and methods of researching your family history.

Genealogy Connect features a wide range of genealogy eBook resources grouped together in a fully cross-searchable platform to assist genealogists and family history enthusiasts in their research.

General OneFile is a comprehensive general-interest resource providing periodical and news information perfect for researchers at all levels.

To assist with finding funding for school, polytechnic or travel grants, sports and arts schemes, personal grants and personal development funds. You will need to create an account the first time you 'view this resource'.

Integrates news, global viewpoints, reference materials, country information, primary source documents, videos, statistics, and more in a single search.

This database supports awareness and provides perspective on global issues, while tying together a wealth of authoritative content, empowering learners to critically analyse and understand the most important issues of the modern world.

Access over 600 online manuals, covering car and motorcycle maintenance and repairs.

Haynes Manuals AllAccess is a library of manuals covering a range of makes and models, with up-to-date content including common repairs, routine maintenance and servicing procedures.

Whether you’re researching a disease or health issue, a drug or herb, or you just need some basic health information for yourself or your loved ones, this is the place to start.

Health and Wellness offers up-to-date reference material as well as full-text magazines, journals, and pamphlets from a wide variety of authoritative medical sources.

Previously Student Resources In Context.

This database presents material in the way most useful for students. Students will find a vast array of resources for papers, projects and presentations. Covers topics in the science, health, history, geography, cultures and literature areas.

Covers such topics as architectural techniques, tool and material selection, zoning requirements.

This special collection has more than 200 home improvement-focused titles for both hobbyists and professional carpenters . Many subject areas are covered.

A great resource for curious travelers and serious researchers.

This special collection allows for focused study of all areas of the hospitality industry, including the cultural aspects of travel and leisure activities, the economic impact of tourism and more. It provides unparalleled coverage of both the historical and current state of affairs in the hospitality and tourism field.

The National Library of New Zealand's searchable database that contains abstracts and descriptions of articles from over 1000 New Zealand periodicals and newspapers.

The National Library of New Zealand's searchable database that contains abstracts and descriptions of articles from about 1000 New Zealand periodicals and newspapers, including some from earlier in the 20th century to the current day.

Literary Sources brings together all Gale Literature related content in a single interface with great features that can save you time. Access full-text literary works, journal articles, literature criticism and analysis, reviews, author biographies and more.

Information on literary figures from all time periods writing in such genres as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, history, journalism, and more.

Find up-to-date biographical information, overviews, full-text literary criticism, and reviews on more than 130,000 writers in all disciplines, from all time periods and from around the world.

LitFinder provides access to literary works and authors throughout history.

Includes more than 132,000 full-text poems and 670,000+ poetry citations, as well as short stories, speeches, and plays. Biographies, work summaries, photographs, and a glossary are also included.

Manawatū Heritage is an online repository where you can search, share and download thousands of photographs and other items about the Manawatū region.

Manawatū Heritage is a living heritage tool which encourages active participation from the community by accepting digital uploads and written articles from the public. By creating a log-in, you can upload your own stories and photographs to the repository as well as comment on individual items, share your findings via email and social media, and download low or high resolution copies of out of copyright materials.

Explore the Manawatū, New Zealand through themed heritage tours. Created by the Heritage Team at Palmerston North City Library, these fun, interactive tours allows the whole family to explore Palmerston North and beyond like you never have before.

Manawatū Heritage Tours App brings together community-initiated research, images and content from the award-winning Manawatū Heritage digital repository and mobile technology to help people to explore Palmerston North's rich and often unknown history. Current tours include Women's Places, Military Tour (Walking), and Military Tour (Driving).

This finds information from magazines, reference books and newspapers and covers all subjects.

A powerful online reference system. It offers a variety of full text databases and popular databases from leading information providers. The comprehensive databases range from general reference collections to specially designed, subject specific databases for public, academic, medical, corporate and school libraries.

Previously Research In Context

Created specifically for intermediate age students, this database combines the best of Gale's reference content with age-appropriate videos, newspapers, magazines, primary sources, and much more. Categories cover a range of the most-studied topics including cultures, government, people, world history, and literature.

NoveList Plus can help you find your next great read in your favourite genre. It includes adult, young adult, children's, easy fiction, nonfiction and audiobooks.

NoveList Plus is a comprehensive readers' advisory solution for fiction lovers. With an intuitive interface and extensive content, NoveList Plus answers the question: What should I read next?

Need to look at one or both sides of a controversial social issue? This clarifies the facts of each topic as well as the arguments for and against.

Opposing Viewpoints is a premier online resource covering today’s hottest social issues. This cross-curricular research tool supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes. Its informed, differing views present each side of an issue and help students develop information literacy, critical thinking skills, and the confidence to draw their own valid conclusions.

Archives Central is a fully-searchable catalogue of Council Archives, including a growing collection of digitised archives, sourced from participating New Zealand local authorities.
The purpose of Archives Central is to make Council archives more accessible for the community and easier to use.
Click on the logos above to view your chosen council’s homepage and search their listings; or use the search box at the top right of this page to search over the whole site.

This database lists the Community Archives and Research Files that are available for research purposes in the Ian Matheson City Archives.  The Community Archives are records of local organisations, businesses, individuals and their families, and are generally primary documents. Research files are an amalgamation of resources around frequently requested topics. They may contain references to primary information, as well as notes, newspaper articles and secondary sources of information. 

Previously Small Business Builder.

This database helps patrons interested in planning and optimizing their businesses or nonprofits. Built for aspiring entrepreneurs and those with existing small businesses, it provides a step-by-step online planning tool for starting, managing and optimizing a business or nonprofit.

Create an account to access this resource.

Covers current events, sports, science, health and more.

This database provides a strong focus on current events, sports, science and health. Chosen by public library search results, titles are compiled by what your users are searching for most. Six hundred of the more than 1,000 titles are recommended in Bowker’s Magazines for Libraries.

Save time and search across more than one Gale eResource at once.

This database provides instant access to 7000 plus newspapers and magazines, from 120 countries in 60 languages.

This database provides instant access to 7000 plus newspapers and magazines, from 120 countries in 60 languages on your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. As well as current issues, there are back issues. New features offered with Press Reader are interactive tables of content, foreign language translation (in 18 different languages) social sharing and text-to-voice conversion.

An engaging online resource that provides contextual information on hundreds of today's most significant science topics.

Gale's authoritative reference content is merged with full-text magazine, academic journal, and news articles; experiments, images, videos, audio files, and links to vetted websites organised into a user-friendly portal experience.

Strategic Grants connects nonprofit organizations with tools, resources and support in identifying grants for your funding needs.

The Strategic Grants team is a team of professionals who have 20 years of success in helping nonprofits secure funding.

If you are interested, please contact our Community Funding team to ask about eligibility to access this resource: communityFunding@pncc.govt.nz

Contact Community Funding for login instructions.

A multi-faceted reference tool for children through to tertiary level research

World Book Online is a suite of online research tools that includes encyclopedia articles, primary source collections, educator tools, student activities, pictures, audio, and video, complemented by current periodicals and related websites.

A resource that helps students understand the world around them, from antiquity to the present.

World History provides an overview of world history covering the most-studied events, periods, cultures, civilizations, religions, conflicts, wars, ideologies, cultural movements, and people.