Ancestry library edition

Find out about your family history.

Ancestry Library edition provides access to millions of records of interest to genealogists – census, military, court, land and probate, immigration, birth, death and marriage records, passenger lists and more, from UK, Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand. New content is added regularly. It now also includes New Zealand city and area directories 1866-1955, New Zealand electoral rolls 1853-1981, New Zealand Maori voter and electoral rolls for 1908 and 1919, Canterbury Provincial rolls 1868-1874, New Zealand jury lists 1842-1862, New Zealand Maori land claims 1858-1980 and New Zealand naturalisations 1843-1981.

Through this site you can:

  • Cross-search thousands of databases by single or multiple elements
  • Jump directly to specific collections or databases
  • Browse collections by state, province or country
  • Browse original, full-text digital images in the census, immigration and military collections
  • Download digital images in JPEG and GIF formats for more extensive viewing and printing
  • Download helpful census extraction forms, ancestral charts, family group sheets, and more
  • Rapidly retrieve a list of genealogy databases posted or updated regularly.

You can access Ancestry Library edition free on computers within the library, or on your own wifi-enabled laptop in the library via the Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa home page.

(Note: The Ancestry Library Edition database is  Only available for in-library use - our subscription does not allow library users to access the database from home.)

Staff can offer assistance to get you started, and from time to time we run classes for more in-depth tuition.