Your Virtual Reference Library

You can access a wide range of reference materials through the Isle of Wight Library website. To use these resources simply follow the links below and log on using your library card number.

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography contains biographies of over 55,000 people who have shaped the British past over the last 2,400 years.

The Oxford English Dictionary is widely acknowledged as the most authoritative and comprehensive dictionary of English in the world. It is also very useful for crossword addicts as it is possible to search for words with wildcards as missing letters can be replaced with a ?.

The Oxford Reference Online is a vast online reference library combining in-depth content offered by titles in the Oxford Companions series with authoritative, quick-reference coverage of the full subject spectrum.

Grove Music Online is the ultimate authority on all aspects of music from classical to hip-hop and from baroque to blues.

Grove Art Online is the ultimate authority on all aspects of the visual arts worldwide from prehistory to the present day.

New UK is an online service developed to provide national and regional news, combining the 68 British newspapers and magazines in one database.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica is now available in three different versions.

Britannica Junior Encyclopaedia has been created especially for readers at the primary and middle school level. Thousands of shorter articles cover subjects for school and fun, from nations of the world to animals and sports.

Britannica Student Encyclopaedia is designed for readers at middle and high school level. Articles from Britannica Online are edited and presented in a way to appeal to older students.

Britannica Online is the full version of the encyclopaedia.