Reference Collections | Government Information and Statistics | Dictionaries and Thesauruses | Maps
Reference Collections
Oxford Reference Online
Available on the Internet
Subject coverage: Both Generic and subject specific reference sources
Information Type: Full text dictionaries, thesauri, maps & illustrations, timelines and encyclopedias.
Description: English and bilingual dictionaries (European), and a wide range of subject-specific dictionaires and encyclopedias: from arts and humanities to sciences and business.
Gloucestershire Virtual Reference Library
You will need to be a member of Gloucestershire public libraries to access all of the reference services listed.
Government Information and Statistics
Office for National Statistics
Provides data on Britain's economy, population and society at national and local level.
Census Services
Available on the Internet,
Description: Census.ac.uk provides access to data from the 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2001 UK censuses. Registration required.
Directgov
The Directgov site contains full text government documents and current awareness information produced by government departments and other government organisations. To find a specific document use the advanced search which provides several methods of focusing your search.
Dictionaries and Thesauruses
Chambers Dictionary
An authoritative British source. There is a free online search enabling searches of the dictionary, thesaurus and biographical dictionary.
Merriam-Webster
Provides a very good thesaurus but be aware that it uses American spelling.
Maps
Digimap
Available on the Internet
Description: Digimap OS provides on-line digital mapping and data extraction facilities using current Ordnance Survey data of Great Britain. Digimap Historic allows users to view and download Historic Ordnance Survey maps of Great Britain dating from 1843 to the early 1990s. Registration required.
Google Maps