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Life in the UK - an online study resource for candidates preparing for the Life in the UK or British Citizenship test.  It provides the online version of the latest official study materials licensed from the Home Office.  All content is available free without the need to sign up to the site.  Content can be read in other languages using browser-based translation.

Oxford Dictionaries - Premium English Dictionary - a comprehensive dictionary and thesaurus of current English, including more than 350,000 words and phrases, and more than 1.9 million example sentences. Plus additional English grammar resources including New Hart's Rules and Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage.

Access to Research - provides free access to over 30 million academic articles from leading publishers.  Subjects include art, architecture, business, engineering, history, languages, politics and the sciences.
 

Support information on how to use the Access to Research if available via their Frequently Asked Questions page

Which? Online - is the online version of the famous Which? magazine.  It has a search facility or browse a range of categories from mobile phones to pushchairs. This resource can be accessed directly from Gloucester or Cheltenham Library or via Ask Us Enquiry Service. 

Most businesses have some form of intellectual property, yet few have protected these valuable intangible assets or understand their financial value. Protecting your business with a robust Intellectual Property (IP) strategy from the outset, allows you to take legal action in the event of unauthorised use of your IP. It also allows you to exploit commercial opportunities such as licensing your goods or services out to third parties, as well as helping you to maintain your competitiveness in the market. A good IP strategy can also help you to attract investment in your business. 

There are 4 different IP rights including:

• Patents which protect new inventions. If you want to find out if something similar to your invention already exists and has been patented you can do this by searching  Espacenet which is operated by the EPO (European Patent Office). Also, The Intellectual Property Office’s online service Ipsum allows you check the status and access information on UK patent applications.

Trade secrets may be a good alternative to obtaining a Patent, particularly if you do not wish to publicly disclose your idea or invention. We can provide guidance on when you might wish to use Trade Secrets.  

• Trademarks which protect brands. If you want to find out whether a similar trademark already exists, you must check if anyone has already registered an identical or similar trademark for the same or similar goods or services by searching the trademark database.

• Designs which protect the visual appearance of a product. If you want to find out if a similar design already exists, you must check if anyone has already registered an identical or similar design by searching DesignView. 

• Copyright which protects literature, artistic works, software, photographs, music, films etc. Copyright is an automatic right in the UK which begins as soon as a work is fixed in tangible form. Therefore, as you get copyright protection automatically there is no official registration system for copyright works in the UK, so you do not need to apply or pay any fees.

FREE business information including targeted mailing lists and company reports using our database Fame. Fame is a comprehensive business database which contains information on both public and private companies across the UK and Ireland. Log in to your FAME account here.

The database can be accessed directly from Gloucester Library or through Ask Us Business. 

Take advantage of the facilities available at our Labs. 

The Labs are creative community spaces offering accessible digital skill development for all ages and abilities. Small businesses, freelancers and creatives can take advantage of an affordable membership and in return they can access advanced technology, high-cost software, project & digital support from the Lab Tech Team, as well as the support and inspiration that comes with joining a collaborative community. 

Each of our Labs provide access to 3D modelling, scanning & printing, virtual reality, 360 cameras, micro-computers and a digital design studio to bring you project or idea to life.

Access points in all county libraries with support to the Growth Hub and the latest business literature. Selected libraries have co-working spaces and business areas – smaller libraries offer literature and guidance. 

All libraries offer printing, photocopying, access to library PCs and free Wi-Fi.

FREE business magazine available via Pressreader – the library app for free newspapers and magazines featuring titles such as The Economist and The Guardian.

Access to FREE self-help information sheets on all aspects of business to consumer law.  Options of a competitively charged 1:1 advice service for complex enquiries and access to additional support through Primary Authority Partnerships.