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.
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.
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.
Biblio+ allows you to stream a diverse collection of award-winning entertainment unlimited and ad-free, including TV series, films, documentaries and lots of BBC content.
Log in to Biblio+ online to create your Biblio+ account. You will first be asked to select your library (Queenstown Lakes District) and enter your library card number and pin/password. You will then be prompted to create a biblio+ account.
After you've created an account, you can download the app to your phone, tablet or smart TV for seamless streaming direct to your living room.
Borrowbox is an app that allows you to borrow eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and eComics to read on your computer, phone or tablet.
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:
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.
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.
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 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.
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 can navigate directly to tailored Comics Plus collections (by age group):
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.
If you need help we suggest visiting the creativebug help page.
Explore, discover, view and celebrate the rich diverse cultural heritage of the Pacific with Digital Pasifik.
Over 1,500+ books, games and activities to improve English reading, writing and comprehension skills.
Era Books content is curated by trusted Australian educators and supported by early childhood research.
Accessible via a browser (for desktop computer or laptop) or via the Era Books app (for mobile phone or tablet).
If you need help we suggest contacting Era Books for assistance.
Gale provides scholarly resources for learning and research and facilitates the discovery of knowledge and insights by all people, for all purposes.
Learn more about Gale databases and how to use them on our Gale blog post.
With your library membership, you have access to these Gale databases:
If you need help getting started, we suggest visiting the Gale topic finder tutorial page.
Queenstown Lakes Libraries does not subscribe to Generosity. However, individuals can access Generosity via Creative New Zealand's subscription.
Generosity NZ is the largest digital search facility for funding information in Aotearoa.
Visit Creative New Zealand's website to find out how to access Generosity via their subscription.
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.
Learn NZSL is a free learning portal on New Zealand Sign Language. NZSL is the main language of New Zealand's Deaf community and is one of the 3 official languages of New Zealand.
Borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks to read on your computer, phone or tablet via the Libby app.
If you need help we suggest visiting the Libby help page.
Queenstown Lakes Libraries does not subscribe to LinkedIn Learning. However, you can access to LinkedIn Learning via the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development (MSD)'s subscription.
LinkedIn Learning offers an online library of expert-led courses on topics from technical skills and software to leadership and communication — making this a valuable tool for both entry-level and experienced professionals.
Visit the MSD website to find out how to apply for LinkedIn Learning.
Thousands of audio-picture books in over 70+ World Languages, together with English translations. Includes children's picture books in Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).
Accessible via a browser (for desktop computer or laptop) or via the LOTE4Kids app (for mobile phone or tablet).
If you need help we suggest visiting the LOTE4Kids 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.
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.
If you need help we suggest visiting the Medici.tv EDU help page.
Access and use the collective knowledge of the nation.
Includes the National Library Catalogue, the Turnbull Archival Catalogue, Papers Past, National Library eResources, and the PublicationsNZ database. Search the National Library collection.
We also recommend exploring the following National Library resources:
You can also search New Zealand's digital collections with Ā-Tihi o Aotearoa | DigitalNZ, established by the National Library of New Zealand and including more than 30 million items from over 200 content partners.
Tuia Mātauranga (developed by the Ministry of Education and hosted by the National Library) highlights local people, places, and events that have helped shape our nation's histories.
We offer Queenstown Lakes Library members three different digital resources produced by New Zealand Geographic.
Read every story ever published by the NZGeo magazine, including the latest stories and digital-only content.
Use our NZGeo link, then verify your library number and pin/password to start browsing, searching, and reading content from the archives.
Optional: Opt-in to their newsletter which connects current news and events to background reading from their archive.
NZGeoVR has been in production since 2016 and features some 200 remarkable VR experiences from around NZ, including territories in in the tropics to the subantarctic to everywhere in between.
It works on desktop or mobile. On desktop you can grab and pan, and on mobile you can move the device around to see through the ‘magic window’.
Use our NZGeo link, then verify your library number and pin/password to start viewing.
Ask almost anything related to Aotearoa, New Zealand with the NZGeo AI, Tahi.
Tahi is a reliable sovereign AI platform for Aotearoa, produced in partnership with RNZ and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage drawing on the highest quality datasets and deploying appropriate guardrails.
Unlike international LLMs, NZGeoAi has been constructed in collaboration with data owners, tangata whenua and public agencies, ensuring ownership and tīkanga are respected and upheld. The service has a familiar chat interface, but includes high-quality captioned images as well as text summaries—a richer, more complete experience for the user. Users can also click each component of the response to visit the original citation, adding an important layer of transparency.
NZSL Dictionary from Victoria University of Wellington has over 4500+ multimedia, multilingual dictionary entries. Also available as an app for your mobile device.
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.
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.
If you need help we suggest visiting the PressReader Help Centre.
Reo Māori is a website by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori | the Māori Language Commission. You can use it to find resources, courses, information, and campaigns such as Te Wiki o te Reo Māori | Māori Language Week.
Road to IELTS is ideal for IELTS preparation: the interactive activities, advice videos, and practice tests are aimed precisely at the challenges you face.
If you need help we suggest signing in and reading the 'Starting Out' and 'Advice and Tutorials' sections of each module.
Te Ara (meaning 'the pathway' in te reo Māori) offers many pathways to understanding New Zealand. It is a comprehensive guide to the country’s peoples, natural environment, history, culture, economy, institutions and society. As an encyclopedia founded on historical principles, it is written mainly in the past tense.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa welcome learners at every level to their Māori language courses.
Start your journey or grow your fluency with flexible study options online, in class, or from home. Programme features vary by qualification, with a clear pathway from Level 1 to Level 9.
Te Wānanga o Raukawa offer qualifications embedded with mātauranga Māori, with most qualifications offered at diploma level and above include compulsory iwi and hapū and te reo Māori studies.
Toro Mai consists of two online courses – one on te reo Māori, and one on tikanga. Each course takes approximately 10 hours to complete and can be studied at your own pace. There are no costs involved, no assignments, and no exams. A certificate of completion is available upon completion of the course. The courses are not accredited.
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.
You can access UniversalClass for free as a Queenstown Lakes Libraries member: QLDC Libraries UniversalClass
You can browse the course catalogue without needing to log in.
If you would like to view and join a course, you will need to enter your library barcode number and password/PIN. These are the same details you use to access your library membership or our other eResources (such as Libby or Borrowbox). You will then need to create a UniversalClass account for your progress to be saved.
UniversalClass is currently only available via an internet browser or iPhone app.
