Digital Resources A-Z

Ancestry Library Edition is a research database for genealogists and family history enthusiasts. It can help you to trace your family history, with records from the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The full version of Ancestry is available on public computers at selected branches.

Please note: Access is only available on site (not offsite) at limited branches. Additionally, Ancestry Library Edition and the Ancestry.com (available via private subscription) vary slightly.

How to access

• Pop into Arrowtown, Frankton, Hāwea, Queenstown, or Wānaka Library
• Ask the team to use one of the public computers
• Click on: http://ancestrylibrary.proquest.com/ and start researching

Beamafilm allows you to stream award-winning movies, documentaries and acclaimed series without ads on your TV, computer, phone or tablet.

If you're looking for entertainment for children, log directly into Beamakids+, which features only age-appropriate films, TV series and educational content.

To get started on a phone, tablet or Android TV

• Download the app to your phone or tablet
• Look for "Queenstown Lakes Central Otago Libraries"
• Sign up the first time using your library card number and pin/password
• Next time you will need to login using your Beamafilm login details

To get started on a TV, desktop or laptop

• Launch your preferred browser
• Click on this link and login or sign up using your library card number and pin/password

You can also follow the instructions on the Beamafilm website, which has detailed screenshots. If you need help, we suggest visiting the Beamafilm help page.

Please note that Beamafilm is provided for your personal and non-commercial use only. Take a look at the Beamafilm Terms and Conditions for more information.

Borrowbox is an app that allows you to borrow eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and eComics to read on your computer, phone or tablet.

To get started on a phone or tablet

• Download the Borrowbox app to your phone or tablet
• Look for "Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District Libraries"
• Login using your library card number and pin/password

To get started on a desktop or laptop

• Click on this link and login using your library card number and pin/password

If you need help we suggest visiting the BorrowBox help page.

Bridget Williams Books (BWB) is an award-winning New Zealand publisher publishing books on New Zealand history, Māori history, women’s issues and contemporary topics have steadily expanded the boundaries of what New Zealand readers can expect to discover.

Bridget Williams Collections available to library members:

• The Treaty of Waitangi Collection brings together leading thinking on this foundational document, including works by acclaimed scholars such as Claudia Orange, Judith Binney, Vincent O’Malley, Alan Ward and Aroha Harris. 
• The New Zealand History Collection provides complete online access to a major, authoritative resource – over thirty years of award-winning history and biography publishing from Bridget Williams Books. Comprising over ninety titles.
• The BWB Texts Collection provides complete online access to this acclaimed series of short books on big New Zealand subjects. Packed full of fresh thinking, ideas and critical analysis.
• The Critical Issues Collection provides complete online access to high-quality books addressing the big issues facing New Zealand today. The Collection’s authors make this an unprecedented guide to New Zealand’s future in a turbulent world.
• The New Zealand Sign Language Collection provides online access to BWB’s reference publishing and accounts of Deaf experience. The Collection launches with two important works freshly rendered using rich multimedia and visuals.
• The Women’s Studies Collection provides complete online access to a rich area of New Zealand publishing– ground-breaking books on women’s issues, lives and histories. Significant biographies enrich the historical narrative, alongside key works on politics, economics and feminism.
• Te Pouhere Kōrero 10 focuses on the new history curricula launched across all schools in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2023. Contributors bring significant expertise in different areas, from knowledge in place-based pedagogy and iwi approaches to the teaching of the past, citizenship education and Te Tiriti.

To get started on any device

• Head to our Bridget Williams page and start browsing the collections
• Login using your library card number and pin/password

If you need help we suggest visiting the Help tab of each collection (once you have logged in).

Britannica is a dynamic, continuously updated, rigorously fact-checked information source for students, teachers, and lifelong learners. Whether you need historical context for the latest evolving world crisis, want an engaging biography of someone in the news, or just would like to test your knowledge of world capitals, Britannica is the only place you need to look.

We have three levels of Britannica Library. Click on the appropriate level for you and enter your library card number and pin/password to access for free.

Britannica Library Adults

Geared towards those in senior secondary or pursuing further education, this level is a launchpad for critical thinking and fostering mature debates. With live news feeds from the ABC, BBC and The New Zealand Herald, users can easily stay on top of current issues and engage with global perspectives.

Britannica Library Teens

Aimed at teen users to inspire curiosity, stimulate discussion and encourage independent research. Includes lists of primary sources, a feature designed to provide you with first-hand accounts of events or periods of time.

Britannica Library Kids

Britannica Library Kids is a colourful and easy-to-use interactive version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, full of engaging age-appropriate content. Great for primary school aged children.

Carter's Publications have been publishing price guides on art antiquities, antiques, collectables, retro, vintage and 20th century design for 32 years, and include prices on items from 1500 BC to the present day, with a price range of $5 to over one million dollars.

The price guide is based on actual selling prices. Prices of antiques and collectables can vary considerably depending on a multitude of factors. Carter's display the actual auction sale price that the seller has to pay. Prices listed are in Australian Dollars.

To get started on any device

• Click this link and select Queenstown Lakes Library from the list
• Then enter your library card number (beginning with M or QL) and pin/password

If you need help we suggest logging in and visiting the Carter's help page.

Comics Plus provides unlimited online access to thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga.

In addition to the main collection, you may prefer to access Comics Plus tailored libraries directly:

• Comics Plus Children's Library: Unlimited online access to thousands of English language digital comics, graphic novels, and manga. This collection is suited to ages 3-10.
• Comics Plus Teen Library: Unlimited online access to thousands of English language digital comics, graphic novels, and manga. This collection is suited to ages 8-18.

To get started on a phone or tablet

• Download the app to your phone or tablet
• Search for "Queenstown Lakes District Council Libraries NZ - Full Collection"
• Login using your library card number and pin/password

To get started on a desktop or laptop

• Click on this link and sign in using your library card number and pin/password

If you need help we suggest visiting the Comics Plus help centre.

Experience the joy of making and creating! Creativebug offers thousands of online art and craft video classes taught by top designers and artists. You can also download printable crochet and kitting patters, and colouring pages for free.

To get started on a phone or tablet

• Click on this link and login using your library card number and pin/password
• The first time you sign in you'll then need to create an account with an email and password
• Download the app to your phone or tablet
• Login using your email and password

To get started on a desktop or laptop

• Click on this link and login using your library card number and pin/password
• The first time you sign in you'll then need to create an account with an email and password

If you need help we suggest visiting the creativebug help page.

Gale provides scholarly resources for learning and research and facilitates the discovery of knowledge and insights by all people, for all purposes. With your library membership, you have access to these Gale databases:

• Books and Authors [Search and match reading interests to books, authors, genres, or topics.]
• Entrepreneurship [Learn how to start, finance, or manage your small business. Includes sample business plans, how to guides, articles, and more.]
• Plan Builder [Grow, plan, and optimise a business/nonprofit. Utilise development tools and a step-by-step process to build a business plan.]
• Biography [Discover the world's most influential people by searching narrative biographies, news, magazine, and multimedia content.]
• Environmental Studies [Understand environmental issues that affect people globally through topic overviews, journals, news, and multimedia content.]
• Global Issues [Analyse important global issues and events through topic overviews, international viewpoints, news, and multimedia content.]
• General Onefile [Access general interest magazines and key serials in a single resource. Best for general research.]
• Health and Wellness [Search a full range of health-related issues, from current disease and disorder information to alternative medical practices.]
• Australian and New Zealand [Access comprehensive periodical content with a focus on Australia and New Zealand, complemented by global news, reference, and multimedia coverage.]
• Culinary Arts [Offers a smorgasbord of information—more than five million articles from more than 250 major cooking and nutrition magazines, as well as book reference content from Delmar such as About Wine, Introduction to Catering, Advanced Bread and Pastry, and Eat Fit Be Fit.]
• Diversity Studies [A must-have for social science, history, and liberal arts coursework, Gale OneFile: Diversity Studies explores cultural differences, contributions, and influences in the global community. This collection includes more than 2.7 million articles from 150 journals, updated daily.]
• Hospitality and Tourism [Offers current and relevant content that provides well-rounded coverage of both the historical and current state of affairs in the hospitality and tourism industries. The curious traveler will also find a wealth of information, from contents on state parks and information on planning a vacation to full-text travel guides from Fodor's.]
• Gender Studies [Provides balanced coverage of this significant aspect of culture and society. The database offers access to scholarly journals and magazines covering topics including gender studies, family and marital issues, and more.]
• Information Science [This database is updated daily with articles covering all aspects of managing and maintaining information and technology, including usability, cataloging, circulation, business information, and more.]
• News [Access major U.S. and international newspapers online to search articles instantly by title, headline, date, or other fields.]
• Smithsonian Collections Online [Search rare nineteenth and twentieth-century archives on topics like the evolving modes of flight, World's Fairs, and more.]
• Gale Elementary [This simple-to-use digital resource helps kids become comfortable researching by allowing them to move at their own pace through periodicals, videos, and more, to find information on a wide range of topics with kid-friendly visuals and prompts.]
• National Geographic Virtual Library [Browse this cross-searchable platform for research insight from journalism's most trusted name in exploration and discovery.]
• National Geographic Kids [Explore amazing adventures in science, nature, culture, archaeology, and space.]

To get started on any device

• Click on one of the modules
• Login using your library card number and pin/password

If you need help getting started, we suggest visiting the Gale topic finder tutorial page.

Haynes is a library of online repair manuals at your fingertips! Includes millions of the most popular cars and motorcycles, with detailed information on all the common repair and service tasks. You can also explore manuals for Marine, Tractors, and Tech books. Many of the most popular models also have access to the Haynes OnDemand video tutorials.

To get started on any device

• Click on this link and login using your library card number and pin/password

Borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks to read on your computer, phone or tablet via the Libby app.

To get started on a phone or tablet

• Download the app to your phone or tablet
• Look for "Central Otago/Queenstown Lakes District Libraries"
• Login using your library card number and pin/password

To get started on a desktop or laptop

• Click on this link and login using your library card number and pin/password

If you need help we suggest visiting the Libby help page.

Learn another language with the award-winning Mango Languages. Mango has over 70 World language courses and English language learning courses for language learners of all ages.

Mango provides a wide variety of adaptable exercises and learning activities to help you pick up on new vocabulary, intuit unfamiliar grammatical structures, train pronunciation, and boost your cultural knowledge about a new language.

To get started on a phone or tablet

• Click on this link and either click 'Use Mango as Guest' (and enter your library card number and password/pin) OR click Sign Up and use your library card and pin/password to setup a Mango account
• Download the app to your phone or tablet
• Click Login and enter the details you set when you completed the Sign Up process

To get started on a desktop or laptop

• Click on this link and either click 'Use Mango as Guest' (and enter your library card number and password/pin) OR click Sign Up and use your library card and pin/password to setup a Mango account

If you need help we suggest visiting the Mango help page.

Medici.tv EDU allows you to stream from the world’s largest online catalogue of classical music and jazz videos to your TV, computer, phone or tablet.

Please note: There are 2 medici.tv apps. Medici.tv is the paid service. Medici.tv EDU is the service for libraries, which you can use for free with your membership. Please check that you are logging into the correct app - Medici.tv EDU.

To get started on a phone or tablet

• Click on this link and login using your library card number and pin/password to create an account
• Download the app to your phone or tablet
• Login using your Medici.tv EDU login details

To get started on a TV, desktop or laptop

• Launch your preferred browser
• Click on this link and login using your library card number and pin/password

If you need help we suggest visiting the Medici.tv EDU help page.

Get ready to uncover your family's rich and vibrant history using MyHeritage Library Edition.

With billions of historical records, available in 42 languages, exclusive family tree profiles and millions of historical photos, this database is your key to your ancestral past. Records span five centuries and include censuses, military records, immigration and passenger lists and so much more. Whether you're at the library, at home or on the go, MyHeritage Library Edition is ready to guide you on your ancestral journey. 

To get started on any device

• Click this link
• Click on Access through your institution
• Type in Queenstown
• Select QUEENSTOWN LAKES/CENTRAL OTAGO LIBRARIES
• Enter your library card number (beginning with M or QL) and pin/password
• Scroll down and select MyHeritage Library Edition to start researching

If you need help we suggest visiting the MyHeritage support page.

PressReader provides unlimited online access to newspapers and magazines from around the world. Access 7,000+ newspapers and magazines in more than 60 languages, including New Zealand publications.

Please note Allied Press publications (including the Otago Daily Times) and Stuff NZ publications can only be accessed when you are in the library and using the library Wi-Fi. This reflects the publisher's wish to maintain consumption of their titles on the library site, while maintaining full free public access of all of their content while at the library. Click here to view the full collection of Allied Press publications and click here for the full collection of Stuff NZ publications.

To get started on a phone or tablet

• Download the app to your phone or tablet
• Sign In through Library or Group and create an account
• Look for "Queenstown Lakes & Central Otago District Libraries"
• Login using your library card number and pin/password

To get started on a desktop or laptop

• Click on this link and Sign In through Library or Group and create an account

If you need help we suggest visiting the PressReader Help Centre.

Road to IELTS is ideal for IELTS preparation: the interactive activities, advice videos, and practice tests are aimed precisely at the challenges you face.

To get started on any device

• Enter your library card number (beginning with M or QL)
• Then Sign In or Register

If you need help we suggest signing in and reading the 'Starting Out' and 'Advice and Tutorials' sections of each module.

Launching on 1 January 2026!

With 600+ courses in 35+ subject areas, UniversalClass has something for everyone including job seekers, lifelong learners, and DIYers. 

Pick up new skills in everything from computer skills and candle making to finance and feng shui.

Learners can take courses for fun or complete full-length courses with quizzes and assignments to earn CEUs. These self-guided courses can be accessed anytime, anywhere, on almost any device.