Online information
While Google has its place, there are many better resources available online. Being a library member gives you access to these.
State Library of Queensland eResources
The State Library of Queensland (SLQ) provides access to many authoritative e-resources: online journals, newspapers, magazines and websites, online training courses, company information and Australian standards, legislation, music scores and recordings and encyclopedias. Much of the information in these e-resources is not available freely elsewhere on the web. See the content available from the State Library of Queensland.
Get free SLQ membership here – Join the State Library of Queensland
Queensland-wide eResources
Part of the Public Libraries Grant scheme provides Queensland public libraries with access to e-resources that are not available through Google or other free search engines.
AustLit
This is a non-profit collaboration between several Australian Universities and the National Library of Australia. It provides authoritative information on creative and critical Australian literature works. Its coverage spans 1780 to the present day. How to search AustLit.
BlackWords
AustLit also features BlackWords: the most comprehensive record of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander publications available, covering all forms of creative writing, plus film, television, criticism and scholarship. How to search BlackWords.
Gale Interatctive: Science
Provides a comprehensive view of the most-studied science subjects. Authoritative, high-quality digital content is paired with interactive 3D models with functionality including zooming in, rotating, or pulling them apart.
National Geographic Virtual Library
This collection brings together a complete archive of National Geographic Magazine, every page of every issue; from 1888 – current (one month embargo) along with the Magazine Archive; a cross-searchable collection of National Geographic books, images, maps and videos as well as National Geographic Traveler magazine from 2010 to January 2020 and National Geographic History from 2019 make up the People Animals and the World (PAW) collection. The final part of this collection is comprised of the National Geographic Kids Magazine, from 2009-present (3-month embargo), along with a selection of National Geographic books, images and multimedia.
In-library use only eResources
Ancestry - Library Edition
Family history and genealogy resource. Search census and vital records, immigration and military records, family histories, historical maps and more. This product is only accessible using Burdekin Library public computers.
Other useful websites
Legal information
- Legal Aid Queensland’s free legal information publications are available online or hard copy. The factsheets and guides have lots of useful legal information on a range of common legal issues.
- Queensland Law Handbook -The Caxton Legal Centre’s long-standing publication is now available online and free of charge. It is a comprehensive user-friendly legal information website written by more than 50 Queensland experts. It offers plain-English advice about legal rights and responsibilities and where to go for further assistance. If you are experiencing legal problems this is an excellent resource.
Cemetery records – Searchable burial register for Ayr and Home Hill cemeteries.
Australian War Memorial – A wealth of information on the military history of Australia
Australian Bureau of Statistics – National and regional statistics, year books and research papers
Queensland Government Statisticians Office – Statistics and other information about Queensland.
Australian government portal – Helping you find Commonwealth government information and services.
Australian postcode search – Comprehensive listing of Australian postcodes with search function.
Wikipedia – Free online encyclopedia, created and edited by volunteers around the world.
Wikipedia Australian portal – Useful entry-point to Wikipedia content on Australia.
Google earth – Explore the far reaches of the world, right in your browser.
NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration – Information on space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research.
Australian Dictionary of Biography – Descriptions of the lives of significant people from Australian history.
Dictionary – Find definitions, meanings, and word origins as well as help with writing, spelling, and grammar
Thesaurus – An online dictionary of synonyms and antonyms – words of similar and opposite meaning