Home > Online Library

General Disclaimer

A library card is required to access most resources.

Please keep in mind that it may take up to 2 weeks for a new library card to provide access to a resource.

Ancestry Library Edition

Discover Your Family History

Ancestry Library Edition provides access to billions of genealogical records from across the globe. Whether you are searching for census data, vital records, or immigration history, Ancestry offers the tools to trace your roots.

⚠️ In-Library Use Only

📜 Vital Records

Canadian and U.S. Census data
Birth, marriage, and death records
U.K. and International records
Military and service history

💡 How to Access

Available in-library only.

Visit any library branch to access this resource. You can use a library computer or connect your own device to our Wi-Fi.

🖼️ Photos & Maps

Historical photos and portraits
Land and city maps
Immigration and passport records
Passenger lists and border crossings

✨ Research Tools

Search billions of indexed names
Download and print documents
Trace family lineages globally
Access specialized history books

Start Your Journey

Head to the library to access Ancestry and begin uncovering your ancestors' stories!

🌳 Access Ancestry (In-Library)

The Canadian Encyclopedia

Explore Canada’s History, People, and Culture.

The Canadian Encyclopedia is a free, trusted resource featuring thousands of articles about the events and individuals that shaped our nation. It is a premier source of information for students, educators, and curious minds alike.

🍁 National Coverage

Vast collection of bilingual articles
Indigenous history & perspectives
Interactive timelines and maps
Primary source documents

⭐ Perfect For

Students & Teachers
History buffs & Researchers
Newcomers to Canada
Lifelong learners of all ages

📚 Key Topics

Geography and Local Places
Politics and Social History
Arts, Science, and Sport
Biographies of notable Canadians

✨ Learning Tools

Curated Education Guides
Fact-checked by experts
Engaging videos and photo galleries
Available in English and French

Ready to Discover Canada?

Start exploring thousands of years of Canadian history and culture today.

🍁 Open The Encyclopedia

Canadian Points of View Reference Centre

Balanced Perspectives on Contemporary Canadian Issues.

Canadian Points of View Reference Centre is a unique database that provides a series of essays that present multiple sides of current issues. It helps users understand the full scope of controversial topics through reliable, fact-based content.

⚖️ Critical Analysis

Balanced "Point" and "Counterpoint" essays
Overviews of key current events
Guides for critical thinking
Regularly updated timely topics

🎓 Perfect For

Secondary school students
Debate club members
Essay writers & researchers
Anyone seeking unbiased information

📚 Rich Resources

Political and social issues
Environmental and health topics
Curriculum-aligned content
Primary source documents

🛠️ Research Tools

Full-text articles & magazines
Newspapers and radio transcripts
Citation assistance for essays
Easy search & filter options

Ready to Start Researching?

Access balanced essays and reliable sources today with your library card.

🔍 Open Reference Centre

Consumer Health Complete

Comprehensive Health Information for Patients.

Consumer Health Complete is a comprehensive resource designed to support the information needs of patients and to foster a better understanding of health and wellness topics. It provides fact-based, reliable information from thousands of trusted sources.

📚 Medical Library

Drug information sheets
Fact sheets and pamphlets
Health reports and periodicals
Evidence-based reference sources

🎥 Visual Learning

Medical images and diagrams
Health-related videos
Animations with audio narration
Easy-to-understand graphics

🩺 Broad Topic Range

Mainstream & holistic medicine
Wellness and nutrition
Diseases and conditions
Youth and senior health

✨ Features

Available 24/7 from home
Trusted, peer-reviewed content
User-friendly search interface
Updated daily by experts

Your Health Journey Starts Here

Access thousands of health resources with your library card and take charge of your wellness.

🩺 Open Consumer Health Complete

Encyclopedia Britannica Online

The World's Most Trusted Authority for Information.

Encyclopedia Britannica Online is the authoritative resource for reliable, fact-checked information on virtually any topic. It provides a safe and accurate alternative to general search engines for patrons of all ages.

🔍 Research Tools

Full-length encyclopedia articles
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Interactive World Atlas
Descriptive historical timelines

⭐ Perfect For

Students working on school projects
Lifelong learners & fact-seekers
Families looking for safe content
Researchers needing verified sources

📸 Multimedia Content

Thousands of images and videos
Biographies of famous figures
Current events & news feeds
Primary source documents

✨ Why Use It?

Articles at multiple reading levels
Daily content updates
Citation tools for easy referencing
Ad-free and librarian-curated

Ready to Start Your Search?

📖 Open Encyclopedia Britannica

MasterFILE Premier

The Ultimate General Research Resource.

MasterFILE Premier provides full-text access to thousands of magazines, reference books, and primary source documents. It is an essential tool for public library patrons researching virtually any subject.

📚 Diverse Full-Text

Over 1,700 general periodicals
500+ reference books
80,000+ primary source documents
Coverage as far back as 1922

🖼️ Image Collection

500,000+ photos and maps
International flags
Scientific diagrams
Historical illustrations

⭐ Perfect For

General interest research
History & social studies projects
Business and health inquiries
Consumer news and reviews

✨ Features

Daily updates for current events
Citation tools for students
Access from home with library card
User-friendly search filters

Start Your Research Journey

Access thousands of articles and images today with your library card.

🔍 Open MasterFILE Premier

Newspapers.com

Search Local History and Global News.

Newspapers.com provides an extensive collection of local Bradford and South Simcoe newspapers dating from 1852 all the way to 2019. It’s an essential tool for discovering local events, people, and places from the past century.

⚠️ In-Library Use Only

🏘️ Local Archives

Bradford & South Simcoe papers
Extensive date range (1852–2019)
High-resolution digital scans
Searchable by name or event

💡 How to Access

Available in-library only.

Please visit the library and use one of our public computers or connect to our Wi-Fi on your personal device to start searching.

🔍 Powerful Search

Advanced keyword filtering
Search by specific dates
Filter by location or newspaper title
Easy clipping and saving tools

✨ Perfect For

Genealogy & Family History
Local historical research
Academic projects
Nostalgia and local discovery

Explore the Archives Today

Head to the library to access Newspapers.com and dive into over 150 years of local history!

📰 Access Newspapers.com (In-Library)

NewspaperArchive

Explore Centuries of Local and Global News.

NewspaperArchive provides access to millions of historic newspaper pages for genealogy, family history, and local research. Discover the stories that shaped our community and the world.

⚠️ In-Library Use Only

🏘️ Local Coverage

Local Bradford & South Simcoe news
Historical records from 1853 to 1948
Local obituaries & birth notices
Historic local advertisements

💡 How to Access

Available in-library only.

Visit your local library branch to access this resource on a library computer or via Wi-Fi.

🌍 Global Archives

Newspapers from across Canada
International archives & records
Dates spanning several centuries
Thousands of titles available

🔍 Research Tools

Search by keyword, date, or location
High-quality page scans
Save and print clippings
Excellent for genealogy projects

Ready to Discover the Past?

Visit the library today to start your journey through history.

📰 Access Records (In-Library)

Primary Search

The Perfect Research Tool for Young Learners.

Primary Search is a trusted full-text database designed specifically for elementary school students. It provides a safe, curated environment for kids to explore their interests and complete school assignments.

📚 Fun for Kids

Popular children's magazines
Over 1.1 million images & photos
Full-text e-books for children
Easy-to-read encyclopedia entries

📏 Reading Support

Articles assigned Lexile levels
Helps match text to reading ability
Supports literacy development
Text-to-speech options available

🏫 School Success

Safe, age-appropriate results
Covers science, history, and more
Great for first research projects
Teacher-approved sources

✨ Why Use It?

No ads or unsafe web links
Authoritative, fact-checked info
Available 24/7 with library card
Easy-to-use search interface

Let's Start Exploring!

Help your child discover the joy of learning with resources made just for them.

🚀 Open Primary Search

Toronto Star Pages of the Past

Over 120 Years of Canadian History.

Toronto Star Pages of the Past is a digital archive of Canada's largest daily newspaper. Every page, every article, and every advertisement is captured exactly as it appeared, providing an incredible window into the past.

🗞️ Historic Archives

Coverage from 1894 to 2016
Digital page-by-page reproductions
Classifieds and advertisements
Photos and editorial cartoons

📊 Business & Research

Canadian Business Collection
Current Affairs archives (CBCA)
Trade journals and magazines
Economic trends over decades

🔍 Search Tools

Search by name, date, or event
Download and print articles
Cross-searchable with CBCA
High-quality digital zoom

✨ Why Use It?

Explore 120+ years of news
Trace family history in Ontario
Available 24/7 from home
Authoritative primary sources

Unlock the Archives

Dive into over a century of news and business data with your library card.

📜 Open Toronto Star Archives