Resources
Our resources can help you write a paper, learn a language, fix a car, plan a vacation, and a whole lot more. Almost all resources are available anytime, anywhere.
If you're looking for a library service, like faxing, notarizing, or test proctoring, please visit our services page.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data
- Weather, fishing, political maps
- NASA maps
Use it for: Gathering GIS data, preparing for travel, printing educational material and handouts
- State profiles detailing demographics, crime, cuisine, economy, education, places of interest
- Historical information and photos
Use it for: Preparing for travel, printing photographs, school reports
- National cuisine, regional cuisine, daily meals, dining etiquette, special occasion foods, and food trivia for 174 countries of the world
- 6,000+ recipes
Use it for: researching food culture and recipes for country reports, finding new recipes, learning about food history
- Award winning site designed to help children 2-7 build a strong foundation for academic success
- More than 4,000 interactive books, educational games, puzzles, and other learning activities
Use it For: A fun and safe place for young children to learn reading, math, science and more
- Access to Ancestry.com’s genealogical sources
- U.S. and U.K. censuses
- Birth and death indexes
- Military data and city directories
Use it for: Genealogy research
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- Book reviews, award winners, read-alike recommendations
Use it for: Finding your next favorite book
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- Instructions for vehicle repairs and maintenance
- Original equipment manufacturer maintenance schedules
- Technical service bulletins
Use it for: Vehicle repair and maintenance
Did you know? There have been 36 technical service bulletins issued for the 2012 Ford F-150
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- Reviews, ratings and recommendations on appliances, automobiles, babies and kids products, food, and money/personal finance
- Money-saving advice and tips
- Reliable information on new and used cars
- Consumer news
Use it for: Researching products before buying, finding the best healthcare, cell phone and credit card plans
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- Illinois practice tests and handbooks for car, motorcycle, and CDL
- Instant results after every questions and explanations for wrong answers
Use it for: Preparing for your Driver's License exam
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- Collection of ebooks and audiobooks
- See our Downloads page for instructions and FAQ
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- Collection of popular magazines
- See our Downloads page for instructions and FAQ
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- Full-text reference books in e-format
- Art, history, law, literature, science
Use it for: Any research project
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- Country profiles for business or casual travelers
- Guide to local customs, tipping etiquette, places of interests, terms and phrases to know, and cuisine
Use it for: Preparing for a business trip or personal vacation; finding authentic recipes from other countries
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- Links to local, county, state, and federal government information
Use it for: Finding contact information for government offices and elected officials
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- U.S. Census data from 1790-1940
- Revolutionary War Era Pension & Bounty-Land Warrant Application files
- Freedman’s Bank records (1865-1874)
Use it for: Genealogy research
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- We have a collection of popular books on hand at the library that can be checked out as a group.
- If you don't want one of the books we already have, we can also obtain up to 10 copies of popular books that can check out for 6 weeks at a time. Fill out the Book Discussion Request Form and we'll get to work.
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- General encyclopedia and resource for kids
- Animals, music, history, geography, social studies, biographies and more
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- Premiere provider of computer training video tutorials
- Basic computer skills and advanced software applications, e.g., (HTML, Javascript, jQuery)
Use it for: Computer training and learning new software
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- Self-paced, interactive courses to learn 72 languages
- English courses for foreign speakers of 21 languages
- Interactive audio for pronunciation practice
- Memory building exercises, beginner and advanced courses
Use it for: Learning a language, preparation for travel
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- Contains full text for more than 1,000 reference books and over 164,400 primary source documents, as well as an Image Collection of over 502,000 photos, maps & flags
- Covers an extensive range of subject areas including business, health, education, fitness, sports and leisure, personal finance, general science, multicultural issues, DIY and fashion.
Use it for: Any research project
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A Museum Adventure Pass provides free or discounted admission to Chicagoland museums, zoos, and cultural institutions. Come to the Youth Services desk in the library to check out a pass.
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- Full text of the Chicago Tribune from 1849 to present day
- Full text of select newspapers from 1980 to present day; includes Wall Street Journal, New York Times, LA Times, Baltimore Sun and USA Today
Use it for: Locating a specific article or obituary, other general research
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- Book reviews, award winners, and read-alike recommendations
Use it for: Finding your next favorite book
Did you know: If you like Sue Monk Kidd, you’ll probably enjoy Elizabeth Gilbert, Kim Edwards, and Curtis Sittenfeld
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- Book reviews and suggested reading lists for students Kindergarten through 8th grade
- Lexile scores for books
Use it for: Book reports, finding a book to read
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- Easily compose documents in categories like Divorce, Wills, Power of Attorney, Lease Agreements, Bankruptcy, Landlord/Tenant disputes and more
- Option to edit documents, print a blank version if you are on the go, or enter the required information
- Works best on Firefox and Chrome browsers
Did you know? The library provides free notary services. Check out the services page for more details.
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- Must have an LVDL card to register for a course
- 100+ instructor-led online courses
- Includes Microsoft Excel, ACT/SAT prep courses, and web design
- Courses for business professionals - accounting, business law, human resources, marketing
- Personal enrichment courses such as gardening, cooking, meditation, yoga, and art
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- Collection of ebooks and eaudiobooks
- See our Downloads page for instructions and FAQ
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- Public record data for real estate transactions, foreclosures, bankruptcies and new businesses in Illinois
Use it for: Market research, competitive analysis
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- Detailed information on businesses nationwide
- Consumer profiles to help with market research
- 2.5 million job and internship postings
Use it for: Finding a local physician or dentist, compiling a list of businesses in a geographical area market research, competitive analysis
Did you know? There are 13 florists located within a 5 mile radius of the library. Go buy someone flowers!
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- Eight encyclopedias for research
- Separate interfaces for middle school, high school, and adult patrons
- Lexile scores for every article
Use it for: School projects, general reference
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- College prep practice tests: ACT, SAT, GMAT and more
- Career practice tests: ASVAB, accountant, cosmetology and more
- Scholarship search and resume builder
Use it for: Boosting your ACT score, help with financial aid, preparing for a new career
Did you know? You can take practice AP tests for over 15 subjects
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- Interactive, talking picture books for kids
- Works with Flash player directly in web browser; no downloading required
Use it for: A fun way for kids to read, entertainment on long car rides
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- Live 1-on-1 help in math, science, English, and social studies from noon to midnight
- Writing center for help with essays
- Grade school to college level
Use it for: Extra help with assignments, proofreading essays
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- Encyclopedia articles and videos for kids
- Fun, easy to navigate interface
Use it for: General research
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- Catalog to search for books in libraries around the world
- The place to submit request for items via Inter Library Loan (ILL)
Use it for: Finding items we don't have at Lake Villa District Library