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.
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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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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Gale Legal Forms
- Access a comprehensive collection of customizable legal forms, including bill of sale, contracts, divorce, employment, landlord-tenant, real estate, taxes, name change, power of attorney, last will and testament, and living wills.
- Includes Spanish-language forms, legal definitions, Q&A with attorneys, and summaries of state laws to guide you through legal processes with confidence.
Did you know? The library provides free notary services. Check out the services page for more details.
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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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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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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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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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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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