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Online Digital Content
Searching online resources in databases gives access to thousands of full text articles and media from journals and resources all over the world.
These can be saved, sent or cited.
Search our Digital Resources
Use the search box above to search Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre (including MasterFILE). You will need to know your library card number and your PIN in order to be able to view full text resources.
Or you can visit our many other digital resources by clicking on the title of the resource in the list below.
Please note - the Ancestry database is normally for use in our libraries only, but library members can currently access this database from home for a limited time.
Find death information fast, with 90% OF ALL NZ DEATHS listed. A Memory Tree is NZ's largest and most comprehensive website holding death information. If a death has been published in a leading newspaper you can locate accurate, up-to-date information about the person here. Records are updated hourly. A Remembrance Page is created FREE for each person, so you can help build a unique 'tree of memories' for others by leaving a message or a fond memory, refreshing flowers or lighting a candle on a page today. What you do and say, does make a difference!
Check out our local art gallery's online collection or kids can head to the ‘Learn’ section for some fun activities.
Search census, birth, death and marriage records from a wide range of sources. Free for library members to use in libraries only.
Your online librarian can link you with the right resources to help you find the answers you need for your school work. Homework help available from 1.00 pm to 6.00 pm weekdays, February to November.
Australia/New Zealand Reference Centre
Combines Australasian magazines, newspapers, newswires and reference books to create the largest collection of regional full text content available to libraries in Oceania. This database includes leading Australia/NZ periodicals and international periodicals in full text; full text reference books; over 80,000 full text biographies and an Image Collection of over 510,000 photos, maps and flags.
Bibliographies for over 40,000 authors. You can search for an author by surname, or search for books and series. Follow your favourite authors for new and upcoming books.
Search indexes to a range of New Zealand newspapers and journals. It is not full-text. Most articles will be available on Inter-Library loan.
Discover artworks, collections and stories from all around the world, and be sure to check out the large array of virtual tours on offer.
A health website which offers everyday New Zealanders a reliable and trustworthy source of health information and self-care resources quickly. Access is available to evidence-based online tools, resources, self-help programmes and support groups, along with improved accessibility and availability of health information for specific groups such as Maori and Pacific people and resources in different languages. Considered a trusted source of health information and a practical tool for both health professionals and consumers within New Zealand, it is supported by the majority of the District Health Boards (DHBs) and is independent of any drug company sponsorship, involvement, or resources. All content is checked by medical experts.
A health information website for the general public, funded by the Canterbury and South Canterbury DHBs. There is a mix of health information, including factsheets on different topics and descriptions of local health services and supports. There are also links to recommended websites for further reading and research. The information has been written and approved by Canterbury doctors, practice nurses, hospital clinicians, and other healthcare professionals. The South Canterbury DHB has also updated the information to make it specific to South Canterbury.
hoopla digital allows you to borrow MOVIES, MUSIC, AUDIOBOOKS, EBOOKS, COMICS and TV SHOWS to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone – and even your TV! Titles can be streamed immediately, or downloaded to phones or tablets for offline enjoyment later. Download the hoopla digital App from your App Store to use on mobile devices or go to hoopladigital.co.nz to get started. There are hundreds of thousands of titles to choose from, with more being added daily. Audiobooks, eBooks and Comics are available for 21-day loans, Music for 7-day loans and Movies and TV Shows for 3-day loans. You may borrow up to 10 titles a month.
The Internet Archive along with the Boston Public Library are digitising and preserving over 100,000 audio recordings from the Boston Library’s sound collection. While this is a work in progress, you can already listen to over 750 full albums now. Within this assemblage are recordings in formats like wax cylinders, 78 RPMs, and LPs—although, at the moment, the project is focusing on the LPs. LPs were our primary musical medium for over a generation. From Elvis, to the Beatles, to the Clash, the LP was witness to the birth of both Rock & Roll and Punk Rock which must be preserved for future generations. Start listening now.
Kā Huru Manu is a Ngāi Tahu Atlas of over 1,000 Māori place names, kā ara tawhito (traditional travel routes), and original Māori land allocations in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā (region). You can search any New Zealand postal address, Ngāi Tahu place name, land allocation or delve into the inter-generational network of traditional Māori travel routes. You can read about those members of the Ngāi Tahu whānau who shared their knowledge to help create this Atlas.
Kanopy is an on-demand streaming video service that offers viewers a large collection of award-winning independent, international and classic films, as well as documentaries. To access Kanopy all you need is your library card number and your password / pin. You may borrow up to 10 titles a month and you will have 3 days in which to view each video. Kanopy Kids offers videos that will spark children's imaginations, access to all titles in Kanopy Kids is unlimited.
MYVLF (My Virtual Literary Festival)
You can create an account to join this free global virtual literary festival, connecting readers with authors without the need to spend a fortune to travel to the literary event. You can see/hear your favourite authors and ask them questions all from the comfort of your own home – (or watch recordings after the events).
National Library of New Zealand Catalogue
Search the National Library of New Zealand's catalogue.
National Museum of Natural History
This museum is situated in New York and is pretty cool (this is where the Night at the Museum movies were filmed), so check out their virtual tours online – by the time you’ve finished you’ll feel like you’ve been to New York, well to their natural history museum anyway!
Have you ever finished a great book and wanted to find more just like it? Or wanted to help your child find just the right book to read? NoveList Plus is a helpful resource matching readers with the right books by suggesting recommended reads, 'read-alike' titles and authors, thematic book lists, book reviews and book discussion guides for book groups, hundreds of reading and book-oriented articles plus much more.
Access Timaru District Libraries’ Online Tutorials for easy-to-follow instructions on how to use a range of our online resources, including Ancestry, BorrowBox, Libby, ePlatform, Kanopy and PressReader. You will also find introductory tutorials on using some popular social media networks, setting up an email account, using Google Photos and much more.
Papers Past contains more than two million pages of digitised New Zealand newspapers and periodicals. The collection covers the years 1839 to 1945 and includes 80 publications from all regions of New Zealand.
PressReader
Read full digital replicas of newspapers - including cartoons, crosswords and classifieds - from local, national and international newspapers. You can also have news articles read to you.
is a programming language and online community where you can code your own interactive stories, animations and games, primarily designed for ages 8 to 16 (or kids of all ages can head to code.org as well).
Children's stories or three, five-minute or classic short stories are available to read free of charge with no need to sign in. Short Édition offers free access to short literature: poetry, short stories, and flash fiction. Many of these short stories also feature on the Timaru District Libraries' Short Story Dispenser - have you seen it yet?
Explore the SC Museum’s collection online, where there is a focus on the natural heritage and history of the South Canterbury region of New Zealand - land, life and people.
Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
In Māori, Te Ara means 'the pathway'. Through interlinking text and image trails, the Encyclopedia takes you on a journey of discovery of New Zealand. It contains snapshots of the nation, including history, natural environment, government and culture.
Te Puna Search - New Zealand National Bibliography
You can use the Te Puna Database to search for items by author, title or keywords. This database will tell you whether a particular item is held in a New Zealand library. Most of these items will be available to borrow on Inter-Library loan.
A collaboration between the British Museum and the Google Arts & Culture Lab, this is an interactive experience through time, continents and cultures.
The Timaru Herald has had more copies digitised and added to Papers Past.
The years now covered are 11 June 1864 - 31 December 1920 (15262 issues).
The Temuka Leader from 1878-1932 have also been added.