Local History & Genealogy

Ancestry® Library Edition delivers billions of records including census data, vital records, directories, photos, and more. It brings the world’s most popular consumer online genealogy resource to your library. It’s an unprecedented online collection of individuals from North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and more.

*Ancestry discontinued remote access on December 31, 2021. Ancestry is available for in-library use only.*

An essential resource for library clients! Easily borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks from cloudLibrary™ to read on your computer, tablet or mobile device. 

Three multimedia encyclopedias in one: Children; Young Adults; and the Reference Center for older students and adults. Conduct research, complete homework assignments, and work on special projects.

Students in grades 7-12 can find current and reliable information on thousands of topics for research projects and homework assignments. Content includes journals, newspapers, reference books, images, primary sources, and more. Canadian content is included.

Free, interactive, instructor-led online courses. Courses run for 6 weeks and focus on professional & personal development, including topics in business, technology, education, law, health & wellness, personal finance, and more. 

*Please note: Gale Courses will no longer be available after December 31st. Watch for Universal Class (a new resource) coming in January!*

This historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time.

hoopla gives you access to movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics, magazines, and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, TV or phone! Titles can be streamed immediately (no waitlists!), or downloaded to your phone or tablet for offline enjoyment. With thousands of titles to choose from, and more being added daily, hoopla is like having your public library at your fingertips. Anytime. Anywhere. All you need is your Pickering Public Library card to get started!

A large collection of ebooks, audiobooks and videos with options for adults, teens and children. Easily access your next favourite book on your eReader, tablet or phone with Libby by OverDrive and your Pickering Public Library card. 

*On May 1st, 2023, the legacy OverDrive app was removed from all app stores. Libby is the primary supported app for devices. You can find more information about making the switch to Libby on the OverDrive website here. Please note, Kobo devices should not be impacted by the sunsetting of the OverDrive app as they rely on a different OverDrive integration.*

This eBook reference collection offers a rich selection of eBook titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects. Topics include biography, history, careers, cooking, literature, genealogy, health, parenting, personal finance, politics, architecture, science, current events, social-emotional health, sports, and travel.

View documents, images and newspapers which tell the story of Pickering from its earliest people to today’s growing City. The collection contains books, photographs, maps, newspapers, family histories, and much more.