Research and reference

This easy-to-use database brings together news, articles, and research on topics like business, education, health, politics, literature, and more—all from a Canadian perspective. Whether you're working on a school project, researching current events, or just curious about a topic, this resource has something for you.

Canadian Reference Centre gives you full-text access to popular Canadian magazines, newspapers like the Toronto Star, CBC transcripts, and over 2 million news images. You’ll also find international favourites like TIME, The Atlantic, and Scientific American.

Find trusted reviews, ratings, and comparisons for thousands of products—from cars and appliances to electronics and everyday items. Features include buying guides, product recall alerts, safety information, and side-by-side comparisons to help you shop with confidence.

A one-stop search tool for finding articles, eBooks, magazines, and research across all the EBSCO databases the library subscribes to. Great for homework, research projects, and learning about almost any topic.

Contains documents such as civil registration records; church records; and probate, census, land, tax, and military records. The collection also contains compiled sources such as family histories, clan and lineage genealogies, oral pedigrees, and local histories. Create a FamilySearch account to access the records. 

The Great Courses lets you stream fun and easy-to-follow video classes on history, science, art, and more. Every class is taught by subject experts who make learning clear and enjoyable.

Guelph Public Library offers two ways to stream The Great Courses: through hoopla's Great Courses Library Collection BingePass or through Kanopy. Both platforms let you learn at your own pace on most devices

The Guelph Public Library recently digitized the Guelph Guardian and Guelph Life.  The Guelph Guardian located on Quebec Street was published by the Guardian Publishing Company. The library holds copies dating from approximately 1959 to 1966. Guelph Life located on 93 Regal Rd dates from approximately 1975 to 1977.  Both productions helps document Guelph’s rich history.

Kanopy is a streaming service where you can watch movies, documentaries, and independent films anytime, on your favourite devices. It offers a wide selection of award-winning and thought-provoking content for people of different ages and interests.

LinkedIn Learning gives you access to thousands of video courses taught by subject matter experts in business, technology, and creative fields. Learn about everything from leadership and coding to Excel, time management, and graphic design. You can track your progress, earn certificates, and watch anytime—online or offline using the mobile app.

To use the app, enter Guelph Public Library's Library ID when prompted. Library ID (case sensitive): guelphpubliclibrary

An extensive collection of the prominent Canadian weekly news magazine dating back to its first issue in 1905 through 2015, presented in a comprehensive cover-to-cover format. Published weekly, the magazine has focused on conveying to a broad audience both domestic and international news and analysis on a spectrum of subjects.

MasterFILE Premier offers access to thousands of full-text articles from popular magazines, newspapers, and reference books. It covers a wide range of topics like health, business, education, technology, and current events. The database includes searchable PDFs, as well as images, maps, and flags to enhance your research experience.

Provided by Ontario Ancestors, opens a new window, this resource contains more than 19.4 billion historical ​records from all over the world. MyHeritage can only be accessed in the Main Library (100 Norfolk Street). Please ask library staff for assistance.

Naxos Music Library gives you access to one of the largest online collections of classical music. You can stream thousands of albums, explore playlists, and discover a wide range of composers and performers. Features include music notes, cover art, tracklists, libretti for operas, and detailed biographies of over 40,000 composers and artists. There’s also an interactive dictionary with audio examples, a pronunciation guide, and study guides tailored for music curriculums in Canada and several other countries.

Primary Search helps you easily find magazines, articles, and e-books made just for kids. You can explore trusted content on topics like science, history, and animals—all matched to your reading level with Lexile measures. It’s a great tool for kids, parents, and teachers to make learning fun and simple.

Formerly Globe and Mail - Canada's Heritage from 1844. Explore over 150 years of The Globe and Mail in this digitized archive. Search full newspaper pages, including news articles, photos, editorials, ads, obituaries, and the Report on Business (B1). A great resource for researching Canadian history, family milestones, or major world events. Coverage is from 1844 to four years ago.

Formerly known as Pages of the Past, Toronto Star Historical Archive gives you full access to digitized editions of the Toronto Star from 1894 to 2022. Search by date, keyword, or topic to explore over a century of Canadian news, events, and daily life—perfect for historical or genealogical research.

Small Engine Repair Source helps you easily find clear, step-by-step repair guides and manuals for small engines like lawnmowers, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. It covers thousands of models and offers detailed instructions to keep your equipment running smoothly.