Research & Learn
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.
2024 Tax Forms
2024 Federal and Illinois State tax forms.
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A to Z Maps
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data
- Weather, fishing, political and historical maps
- NASA maps
Use it for: Gathering GIS data, preparing for travel, printing educational material and handouts
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A to Z USA
- 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
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A To Z World Food
- 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
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ABCmouse.com [Now available to use at home!]
- 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
- Parents can create profiles for each child using one household account
- A robust assessment center, that can create customized lesson plans for each child
- Access ABCmouse.com from a library computer here
Use it For: A fun and safe place for young children to learn reading, math, science and more
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Ancestry.com [Only available in the library]
- Access to Ancestry.com’s genealogical sources
- U.S. and international censuses
- Birth, death, and marriage indexes
- Military data and city directories
Use it for: Genealogy research
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AtoZdatabases
- Find people by name or phone number
- Detailed information on U.S. businesses and consumers
- 7 million job and internship postings
- Resume & cover letter templates, interviewing tips, videos, and more
Use it for: Finding a job, compiling a list of businesses in a geographical area market research, competitive analysis
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Auto Repair Source
- Instructions and diagrams for vehicle repairs and maintenance
- Maintenance schedules and estimated labor times for the most commonly performed operations in a repair shop
- Technical service bulletins and recall notices
- Easily magnify and print diagrams and images
Use it for: Vehicle repair and maintenance
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BiblioBoard Library of Illinois
- Collection of ebooks, audiobooks, and videos
- Local content from self-published authors
- Large collection of classic novels
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Biography Reference Source
- More than 390,000 unique and reliable full-text biographies
- Search biographies by keyword, occupation, activity, nationality, gender, birthplace, and more
Use it for: School or research projects
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Chicago Consumers' Checkbook
- Easily find ratings, reviews and undercover price research on Chicagoland services and retailers, including doctors, auto repair shops, plumbers, veterinarians, tax preparers and more.
- Advice on more than 150 topics such as finance, home maintenance, healthcare, and travel.
- Chicago Consumer Checkbook is nonprofit, independent, and provides unbiased information.
Use it for: Researching the best local services for your home, finances, and healthcare.
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Consumer Health Complete
- Designed to help users gain an overall understanding of key topics across the health and wellness spectrum — from mainstream medicine to complementary, holistic and integrated medicine.
- 483 full-text journals and magazines
- 348 health-reference books and encyclopedias
- 2,628 full-text, evidence-based health reports
- Consumer health pamphlets and leaflets from the CDC, FDA, NIH and others
Use it for: Basic health research, school work, accessing government health publications
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Consumer Reports
- 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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Creativebug
- More than 1,000 award-winning art & craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists.
- Downloadable patterns, templates, and recipes
Use it for: Learning a new craft or building on your skills
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Driver's License Practice Tests
- 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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Explora
- Topic overviews that provide a starting point for research
- Search full text reference books, journal articles, and primary source documents
- Subjects include Arts & Literature, Biography, Business & Careers, Current Events, Geography & Culture, Health, History, Science, and Math
Use it for: Homework and research projects, developing school curriculum, satisfy curiosity
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Explore More Illinois
- A cultural pass program that provides discounts at museums, historical societies, zoos, arts centers, recreational facilities, and more around the stats.
- Locations added often.
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Fiero Code
- Geared towards kids 8 -18
- Learn computer programming skills through self-paced tutorials and projects
- Build websites, video games, phone apps, animations, and more
- Offers courses on HTML, Javascript, Python, SQL, and more
Use it for: Learning computer programing and building critical thinking skills
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Flipster Magazines
- Digital editions of popular magazines
- Unlimited magazine checkouts
- Back issues available
- Use your computer or download the app to your mobile device
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Freegal Music
- Download or stream great music without ads or subscription fees
- Download 5 songs a week - from Sony's entire catalog
- Stream up to 5 hours a day, every day
- use your computer or download the app for your mobile device
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Global Road Warrior
- 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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Got Resume Builder
- Customizable resume templates, with a step by step resume writing guide
- Manage multiple resumes to tailor each one to a specific job
- Download your resume in PDF, Word, or HTML. Send your resume by email or share online.
Use it for: Creating a resume, polishing an existing resume, sharing your resume online
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Heritage Quest
- Genealogical and historical sources for more than 60 countries
- U.S. Census data from 1790-1940
- Revolutionary War Era Pension & Bounty-Land Warrant Application files
- Freedman’s Bank records (1861-1875)
Use it for: Genealogy research
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Historical Chicago Tribune
- Full text of the Chicago Tribune from 1849 to 1997
- Includes photographs, ads, and obituaries
Use it for: Locating a specific article or obituary, historical and genealogical research
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History Reference Source
- Covers topics in U.S. and world history from earliest civilizations through the 21st century
- Full-text journals, magazines, reference books, and primary source documents
Use it for: School reports, research, and genealogy
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Hobbies & Crafts Source
- Detailed "how to" instructions and creative do-it-yourself ideas
- Subject areas include arts & crafts, games & electronics, models, needlework, outdoors & nature, and scrapbooking & paper craft
- Hobby and craft magazines, hobby profiles, recipes, and videos
Use it for: Learning a new craft or building on your skills
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Home Improvement Source
- Includes information on home maintenance, remodeling, electrical work, plumbing, wood projects, outdoor improvements, decorating, and garden
- Comprehensive full-text content from leading home improvement magazines and reference books
Use it for: DIY home improvement and repair projects
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Hoopla
- Instantly borrow free digital movies, ebooks and more, 24/7 with Hoopla
- Use your computer or download the app for your mobile device
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Inkie.org
- A suite of resources supporting local authors
- Design and export your own e-book using Pressbooks software
- Submit your e-book for inclusion in Indie Illinois, Indie Author Project Select, or the Soon To Be Famous Illinois Author Project
- Read and discover e-books from idependently published authors
- Open to all Illinois residents and sponsored by Reading Across Illinois Library System
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Kanopy
- Stream critically-acclaimed movies, classic cinema, inspiring documentaries, foreign films, and a collection just for kids.
- Watch unlimited films in the Kanopy Kids collection.
- Stream on your computer, TV, phone, or tablet.
Use it for: Movie night or learning about something new
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Learning Express Library
- College prep practice tests: ACT, SAT, GMAT, GRE and more
- Career practice tests: ASVAB, teaching, cosmetology and more
- Career tools: resume builder, prepare for an interview, job and internship finder
- Basic computer and internet lessons
Use it for: Boosting your SAT score, preparing for a new career, brushing up on math and writing
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Legal Information Reference Center
- User-friendly interface designed to assist consumers and small businesses in general legal matters
- Full-text legal reference books from Nolo, the nation's oldest and most respected provider of legal information
- Thousands of federal, state-specific, and multi-state legal forms.
Use it for: Getting How-To instructions for legal issues and copies of legal forms
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Libby, by OverDrive
- Collection of ebooks, eaudiobooks, and magazines
- Use your computer or download the app for your mobile device
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LinkedIn Learning
- Premiere provider of instructional video tutorials taught by industry professionals
- Wide variety of topics including business, software, technology, and creative skills
- Learn at your own pace and easily add your certificate of completions to your Linkedin profile
Use it for: Learning new software, digital photography, and business skills
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Literary Reference Source
- Comprehensive database of full-text information on thousands of authors and their works
- Contains plot summaries, synopses, overviews, author biographies and interviews, literary criticism and book reviews
Use it for: Book reports, find literary criticisms
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Mango Languages
- Self-paced, interactive courses to learn 74 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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MasterFILE Complete
- 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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Museum Adventure Pass
- Free or discounted admission to Chicagoland museums, zoos, and cultural institutions.
- Available for checkout at the Adult and youth Reference Desks.
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NewsBank
- Current and archived issues of Chicagoland newspapers
- Image editions of the Daily Herald, Chicago Sun-Times, Lake County News-Sun and more
- Full-text articles, color images, and content only published online
Use it for: Staying up-to-date with the latest news, genealogy research, and general research
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NoveList
- Book reviews, award winners, and read-alike recommendations
Use it for: Finding your next favorite book
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NoveList K-8
- 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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NuWav Legal Documents
- 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
Did you know? The library provides free notary services. Check out the services page for more details.
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Points of View Reference Source
- Presents multiple sides of over 500 issues
- Features a Guide to Critical Analysis for evaluating controversies and enhancing critical reading and thinking skills
Use it for: Any research project, understanding controversial issues
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Public Records
- 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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Science Reference Source
- Provides full text for hundreds of science magazines, journals, reference books, and high-quality videos
- Supports teaching and learning in high school science classrooms with more than 2,500 science lesson plans
- More than 1,050 science experiments
Use it for: Science research projects, High school science lesson plans
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Small Business Source
- Includes tools to address a wide variety of small business topics like starting and growing a business, writing a business plan, marketing, managing employees, and understanding legal information
- Full-text reference books provided by Nolo, a trusted source for business and legal information
- Business videos featuring interviews, lessons learned, lectures, and how-to tips for managing a business
Use it for: Starting and managing a small business, finding legal and practical advice tailored for entrepreneurs
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Small Engine Repair Source
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Repair guides for small engines and routine maintenance (tune-ups, brake service, etc.)
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Includes guides for extensive repairs such as engine and transmission disassembly
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Information on over 25 years of engine models
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Covers lawn mowers, motorcycles, tractors, boats, snowmobiles and more
Use it for: Small engine repair and maintenance
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Tutor.com
- No cost, 1-to-1 tutoring for grade school - adult
- Job seekers can connect with a job search coach for help with resumes/cover letters, practice interviewing skills and much more
- Available anytime noon - midnight, no appointments needed
Use it for: Extra help with assignments, proofreading essays, test prep, and applying for a job
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U.S. Newsstream
- Full text of premium newspapers from 1980 to present day; includes Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, and Washington Post
- Daily papers are added at 8am each morning.
Use it for: Locating a specific article or obituary, general research, reading current local, national, and world news
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Weiss Financial Ratings
- Independent, unbiased financial strength ratings of banks, credit unions & insurance companies
- Conservative buy-hold-sell ratings of thousands of stocks, mutual funds & exchange traded funds
- Medicare Supplement Insurance - which plan to choose, how much it will cost, compare rates & plan benefits
Use it for: Researching the best Medicare supplement insurance, picking the best investments, and learning about personal finance.
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WorldCat
- Find items we don't have at LVDL Get books and journal articles from other US libraries and AV material from other Illinois libraries
Use it for: Finding unique, academic, and out of print materials
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