Research & Learn

2022 Federal and Illinois State tax forms. 

• 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

• 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
• 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

• 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

• 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

• Collection of ebooks and audiobooks
• Offered through the eRead Illinois program
• Use your computer or download the app for your mobile device

• Collection of ebooks, audiobooks, and videos
• Local content from self-published authors
• Large collection of classic novels

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Templates and advice for cover letters, resumes, and other documents

• 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

• Digital editions of popular magazines
• Unlimited magazine checkouts
• Back issues available
• Use your computer or download the app to your mobile device

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Instantly borrow free digital movies, ebooks and more, 24/7 with Hoopla
• Use your computer or download the app for your mobile device

• 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

• Stream critically-acclaimed movies, classic cinema, inspiring documentaries, foreign films, and a collection just for kids.
• Stream up to 10 films per month, per cardholder.
• 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

• Collection of ebooks, eaudiobooks, and magazines
• Use your computer or download the app for your mobile device

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Free or discounted admission to Chicagoland museums, zoos, and cultural institutions.
• Available for checkout at the Adult and youth Reference Desks.

• Book reviews, award winners, and read-alike recommendations

Use it for: Finding your next favorite book

• 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

• 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.

• Formerly known as Testing and Education Reference Center
• 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

• Public record data for real estate transactions, foreclosures, bankruptcies and new businesses in Illinois

Use it for: Market research, competitive analysis

• Interactive, talking picture books for kids
• Works directly in web browser; no downloading required

Use it for: A fun way for kids to read, entertainment on long car rides

• 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

• 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

• 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