eResources Alphabetically
Ancestry® Library Edition
Discover your family’s history using this collection containing more than 4,000 databases and 1.5 billion names cover the U.S. and U.K. IN-LIBRARY USE ONLY
AtoZ Food America
Explore regional cookbooks to explore ethnic culinary influences, fun collections of historic cookbooks, television commercials, and “how to” food preparation videos.
AtoZ Maps Online - NEW!
There are over 100,000 maps in this world's most comprehensive collection of royalty-free downloadable maps. No other reference contains so many maps, map resources, videos, geography learning games, teacher resources, and more!
AtoZ the USA
Explore the country as a whole, or research a specific state or one of five US territories with in-depth information like state animals, historical timelines, and more.
AtoZ World Culture - NEW!
Explore information about world history, cultures, languages, foods, religions, and much more! There are 174 Country Culture Guides that cover more than 60 topics each.
AtoZ World Food
Explore the food culture and traditional recipes for 174 countries with articles, recipes, and more.
Auto Repair Source
Do-it-yourself repair and maintenance information on most major manufacturers of domestic and imported vehicles. Video tutorial.
Black Freedom Struggle in the U.S.
Historical newspaper articles, pamphlets, diaries, correspondence, and more from specific time periods in U.S. history marked by the opposition African Americans have faced on the road to freedom.
Chicago Community Collection NEW!
Explore Chicago history through local news, events and people with Chicago Community Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. Also available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Chicago Sun-Times Collection NEW!
Explore Chicago history through local news, events and people with the Chicago Sun-Times Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. Available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Consumer Health Complete
Covers all areas of health and wellness from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary, holistic and integrated medicine.
Video tutorial EBSCO app for Apple EBSCO app for Android
Consumer Reports
Take advantage of premium consumer information including expert product reviews, current ratings, buying guides, and news articles for thousands of products and services such as cars and electronics. Video tutorial.
Creativebug
Choose from over 1,000 online art and crafts classes with expert step-by-step instructions plus patterns, templates and recipes from Joann Fabrics.
Daily Herald Collection NEW!
Explore Arlington Heights suburban area history through local news, events and people with the Daily Herald Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. Available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Daily Southtown Collection NEW!
Explore south suburban area history through local news, events and people with the Daily Southtown Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. Available remotely 24/7 on any device.
How to Search How to Create an Alert How to Use Suggested Topics
EBSCOhost Research Databases
Allows you to search 15 databases at once. Video tutorial EBSCO app for Apple EBSCO app for Android
Explora for Educators
Provides a variety of topics found in over 200 peer-reviewed journals that are of interest to teachers.
Video tutorial EBSCO app for Apple EBSCO app for Android
Explora for Primary Schools Formerly known as Primary Search
Designed specifically for students in grades K-5. Search results bring back age appropriate and relevant information from Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, American Heritage Children's Dictionary, Middle Search Plus, Primary Search, and Topic Overviews K-5.
Video tutorial EBSCO app for Apple EBSCO app for Android
Explora for Middle & High Schools
Designed specifically for students in grades 6-12. Search results bring back age appropriate and relevant information from Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, History Reference Center, Middle Search Plus, Consumer Health Complete, Science Reference Center, Literary Reference Center, and Topic Overviews 6-12.
EBSCO app for Apple EBSCO app for Android
FOLD3 Library Edition
Historical documents and personal histories from the National Archives and other institutions that provides access to U.S. military records including stories, photos, and personal document of the men and women who served.
Herald-News Collection NEW!
Explore Joliet history through local news, events and people with the Herald-News Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. Available remotely 24/7 on any device
HeritageQuest Online
For genealogy research including U.S. Federal census records, PERSI Archive, local and family history books, and more. Video tutorial.
MasterFILE Premier
Provides full text access to general reference publications, reference books, and primary source documents.
Middle Search Plus
Full text for popular middle school magazines, biographies and historical essays. Full text entries include reading level indicators (Lexiles).
MyHeritage Library Edition
Search over 8 billion primary historical records from the United States, Europe, and other regions, with coverage starting from the 16th century. Video tutorial.
Novelist Plus
Provides reading recommendations, book discussion guides, reviews, articles, lists, series, and author read-alikes for fiction and non-fiction titles for adults and teens. Video tutorials.
Novelist K-8 Plus
Provides Grab and Go Book Lists, recommended reads, award lists, and Lexile scores for fiction and non-fiction titles for children in grades K-8. Video tutorials.
PressBooks via Inkie.org
Edit, format, and generate print-ready and eBook formats for your book through the Inkie. org site which also includes eBooks from local, self-published authors. Video tutorials.
Public Records Electronic Database
Public information from Will, Cook and surrounding counties and includes new homeowners and mortgages, new business licenses and incorporations, tax liens, tax sales for property, foreclosures, and bankruptcies.
Scholastic Teachables
Explore teacher-created lesson plans and activity sheets for children in pre-K through eighth grade. The printable lesson plans offer activities for all major subjects, including math, science, STEM, reading, foreign languages and early learning.
TumbleBooks Library
Enjoy a large selection of English, Spanish and French eBooks and games for children and tweens. TumbleBooks app for Apple TumbleBooks app for Android