Online Resources
The Hanover Public Library offers a variety of electronic resources for fun, reading and research that you can access online any time with your library card number. You may be asked for your library card number or to create an account first. For more free online resources and websites that do not require a library card to access please see our continuing education resources page.
COVID-19 response – while we are closed, we will allow Hanover residents phone, email or online membership registration for short term memberships so you can use our online resources. Learn more here:Membership
Select a category to get started
Read online – ebooks and audiobooks
Streaming Video
Ancestry and Local History
Homework / Reference Tools
Library Virtual Programmes
Learn a Language
Newspapers and Magazines
Streaming Video
RBdigital allows you unlimited access to our three entertainment channels. You can browse the content without an account, to see what’s available.
To run a video, you must create an account first. When you log in with your account and “checkout” a product, that provides unlimited use of any videos in that product for 7 days. When your access expires you can start again.
Click on the RBdigital logo to get started or select the logo of the channel you want to watch. Need help getting started? Click here to open the help guide for Streaming Video.
Each 7 day access is paid for by the library, and we have a limited budget. Please browse without logging in before you checkout a product. Your weekly or monthly sessions may be limited, to maintain fair access through the year. You are welcome to support this and other library services.
Streaming Video Channels
Access some of the most popular British TV shows – both classic and current. 80+ exclusive shows, including A Place to Call Home, The Brokenwood Mysteries, Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime, Detectorists, and Jack Irish. Acorn TV streams the latest seasons of fan favourites like Doc Martin, Midsomer Murders, Vera, Murdoch Mysteries, and more. Stream on computer, smartphone & tablet with Acorn TV app or browser. You can browse the content without an account, but checking out requires that you are first logged in to your RBDigital account.
Take binge watching to the next level with binge learning! Access The Great Courses via streaming video on RBdigital. Hundreds of videos on subjects ranging from photography to physics, astronomy to art, history to health, and more, The Great Courses Library Collection has courses on how to do it, how to learn it, or how it happened. Easy-to-use so you can learn at your own pace. New courses added every month.
You can browse the content without an account, but checking out requires that you log in with your RBdigital account.
Stingray Qello is the only place to watch over 1,700 of the most amazing live moments in music. It’s the world’s largest collection of full-length concerts and music documentaries streamed on-demand to just about any digital device. It’s like a never-ending concert ticket! Watch Stingray Qello on your big screen with Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, Sony, and more. You can browse content here https://qello.com/ but return to our RBdigital page to check out with your RBdigital account.
IndieFlix brings you over 7,000 high-quality shorts, features, documentaries, classic TV shows and Web series from 85 countries.
View films from major festivals all over the world, including Sundance, Cannes, Tribeca, and more! Easy to use navigation lets you sort by language, genre, or film length. Lovers of independent films will love IndieFlix because it supports the filmmakers. Watch movies on any Internet-enabled computer, smartphone, or tablet with a Web browser! Also available on Roku, Xbox, and Apple TV. You can browse the content without an account, but checking out requires that you log in with your RBdigital account.
ebooks & Audiobooks
Libby – online reading for phones & tablets
The free Libby app is the easiest way to get started with digital books, and audiobooks from our library. Libby has the same collection as OverDrive but many people find it simpler and easier to use on phones and tablets.
Libby is available for Android, iOS, Windows 10, and some Chromebooks.
Need help? Contact OverDrive Front Line Tech Support:
OverDrive – online reading
Get eBooks and audiobooks anywhere, any time! Enjoy a large collection of downloadable audiobooks and eBooks from OverDrive available for listening or reading on your computer, Apple or Android device, MP3 player, eReader, or Windows Phone.
To use on a mobile device, download the OverDrive App app from iTunes, Google Play, or the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Need help getting started? Try the OverDrive Help page.
Still stuck? Contact OverDrive for support using this web form:
EBSCO ebooks and audiobooks
EBSCO offers a large collection of both fiction and non-fiction of nearly 300,000 ebook and audiobook titles from leading publishers. Titles are compatible with ebook readers, MP3 players and many other portable devices. A great educational tool!
Novelist K-8 and Novelist Plus
Children (in K-8) or Adults, Teens and Children (in Novelist) can search by author, title, series name or plot/subject to find their next new fiction or non-fiction title. Comprehensive resource for those seeking new fiction and non-fiction titles. Includes lists of award winners and discussion guides for book clubs.
Ancestry and Local History
Ancestry Library Edition

A fabulous resource for anyone doing genealogical or historical research. ALE offers 200+ billion images in 7,000 unique databases from North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and other international collections. Records include census data, vital records, directories, photos and more with some information dating back to the early 13th century. For remote access log into your library koha catalogue account and choose Ancestry Library Edition from ‘More Member Resources’ list.
Hanover Post Obituaries Index
The Obituary Index allows you to search for names of people whose obituaries appeared in the Hanover Post from 1897 to the 1950s.
The index is available in the library, or online. You may find all the information you need in the index. Use the request form to ask for a copy of the original obituary from our archives. Charges will apply for this service. Please see our current fee schedule for more information.
Frontier Life
Through a large array of unique documents, this multi-archive collection captures the lives, experiences and colonial encounters of people living at the edges of the Anglophone world from 1650-1920. It ranges across the various colonial frontiers of North America before touching on the settlers of Southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Homework / Reference Tools
New! World Book Encyclopedia
World Book offers a suite of digital resources with content to engage and excite all minds from pre-readers to advanced researchers. The databases are progressive and align users with their appropriate learning level.
Merck Medical Manual, and Veterinary Manual
The Trusted Provider of Medical Information since 1899
The Merck Manuals are a comprehensive medical information source covering thousands of topics in all fields of medicine. They are offered as a free public service to health care professionals and the general public.
NEW! Language Learning
Mango Languages
Mango Languages teaches practical conversation and simulates the way people learn when immersed in a foreign culture. Explore 70 + world languages and ESL/ELL courses in a self paced learning environment. Reading and listening activities, assessments and chapter recaps to check understanding and learning progress.
Little Pim
An online language learning system for ages 0-6. While aimed at children, older kids and anyone new to one of the available languages could benefit from this resource.
NEW! Library Virtual Programmes
Exploring the Birds of Ontario I with David T.Chapman
A fun and fact filled video presentation exploring birds of Ontario. Link opens in YouTube.
Norma’s Book Talks
Assistant Librarian Norma gives video book reviews to some of her favourite books! Link opens in YouTube.
Children’s Story times
Watch storytime videos created by our Stephanie and our summer students. Link opens in YouTube.
Children’s Themed Craft Videos
Watch a tutorial of how to make the themed craft from our craft bags. Link opens in YouTube.
Newspapers and Magazines
NEW! CPI. Q
Gale OneFile: CPI.Q is the electronic version of the Canadian Periodical Index. Providing the most-requested Canadian reference information available. It includes more than 1,300 Canadian periodicals, a bilingual interface (English/French), full-text articles from 1983 forward, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, The Kitchener Waterloo Record, Maclean’s magazine, and much more.