Des Plaines Valley Public Library District

Online Resources and Databases

America's Newspapers:This database offers the online versions of the Chicago Tribune (1985+), the Joliet Herald News (1997+), and the Historical Chicago Tribune Archive (1900-1984).
If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

Ancestry Library: This resource has unparalleled coverage of the U.S. and the U.K., including census, vital, church, court, and immigration records, as well as record collections from Canada and other areas. This collection of more than 4,000 databases and 1.5 billion names is essential to conducting genealogy research. This resource is for in Library Use Only.

Books and Authors: This literature reference database provides background on the lives, influences, and critical reception of current writers, as well as noted authors from every age and literary discipline. Visit this website for access to biographies, literary sidelights, read-a-like book searches, award winners and bestsellers, and librarian favorites. Create your own reading lists, rate books, highlight your favorite authors, and create your own reading room here! If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter the first four digits of your library card number to obtain access.

Business Source Premier: Business Source Premier is the industry’s most used business research database, providing full text for more than 2,300 journals, including full text for more than 1,100 peer-reviewed titles. This database provides full text back to 1886, and searchable cited references back to 1998. Business Source Premier is superior to the competition in full text coverage in all disciplines of business, including marketing, management, MIS, POM, accounting, finance and economics. Additional full text, non-journal content includes market research reports, industry reports, country reports, company profiles and SWOT analyses. Business Source Premier contains PDF images for the great majority of journals; many of these PDF's are native (searchable) or scanned-in-color. This database is updated daily. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

Chilton Library: This database collects car repair information going back to 1954. Bulletins, recalls, and maintenance and repair information including wiring diagrams are all included. The information provided can be printed out for do-it-yourself repair assistance. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter the first four digits of your library card number to obtain access.

Consumer Health Complete: This database is the single most comprehensive resource for consumer-oriented health content. It is designed to support patients' information needs and foster an overall understanding of health-related topics. CHC provides content covering all areas of health and wellness from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary, holistic and integrated medicine. This full text database covers topics such as aging, cancer, diabetes, drugs & alcohol, fitness, nutrition & dietetics, children's health, men & women's health, etc. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

Daily Life through History: This database spotlights the day-to-day lives of Americans, past and present. It is a virtual library of thousands of diverse sources: award-winning reference works, primary documents, illustrations and maps, and supports courses in American history and literature at the high school and college level. It includes a state-by-state resource center complete with capital and key cities, population statistics, flags, mottoes, birds and songs, food and cooking, holidays and festivals, housing and furnishings, religion and spirituality, folkways, games and amusements, music and dance, family life, women's history and culture, Native American and other ethnic cultures, and much more! This resource is for in Library Use Only.

FirstSearch: This powerful resource contains many useful databases. Among them are WorldCat, which allows searching libraries across the nation and even some outside the U.S.; WilsonSelectPlus, offering full-text articles for research; and MEDLINE, providing the latest reports from medical journals. When you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number and PIN to obtain access.

Global Road Warrior: A comprehensive social, cultural, and travel resource covering 175 countries and territories with over 6500 color photos and 1575 country maps. Each country's description includes 97 consistent informational categories, nine maps, extensive travel information, and popular recipes. All statistics are updated annually from the CIA World Fact Book. Global Road Warrior is valuable to multiple disciplines and is accessible to every age level. You will need to enter in the first five digits of your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

Grolier Online: A great place to begin research. It includes the electronic version of Encyclopedia Americana and the Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. A powerful interactive atlas links directly to articles for reports on a specific nation or place. Encyclopedia articles contain links to journal entries for the latest information. You will need to enter in the first five digits of your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

HeritageQuest Online: This database is designed specifically for patrons in public libraries who are either just beginning their family research or who after years of work are still uncovering their past. Founded in 1983, HeritageQuest Online is a collection of over 25,000 family and local histories. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

Illinois Group Catalog: This catalog is Illinois' first all inclusive statewide union catalog and it searches the records of over 600 libraries across the State of Illinois. You can search virtually any possible combination of terms to find even the most obscure items. Click on the "Enter Catalog Link" to begin your Search.

LearningExpress Library: This innovative instructional and test preparation website offers comprehensive courses in math, reading, and writing; essay writing practice with instant scoring; resume writing and workplace skills enrichment; computer video tutorials for learning the basics of computer, the internet, and Microsoft Office products (complete with audio), as well as more than 300 online practice tests for students and adults of all ages. LearningExpress Library offers skill-building courses and a broad range of practice tests based on such official exams as the ACT, SAT, GED, ASVAB, Firefighter, Police Officer, Paramedic, EMT Basic, U.S. Citizenship, Postal Worker, Cosmetology, Real Estate Agent & Broker Exams. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

Literature Resource Center: This resource is a database for students and other researchers. It provides access to an assortment of traditional literary reference works, critical information on authors and their works, current journal articles, and other resources having to do with poetry, drama, and literature. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter the first four digits of your library card number to obtain access.

Mango Languages: This instructional database teaches 36 languages by introducing information at the pace you choose. Its conversational focus will teach practical tools from your very first lesson. Including native spoken vocabulary tools on audio, a virtual tutor that will guide you through each lesson, tools for grammar concepts and cultural differences within the language you are studying, Mango will help you build your memory, vocabulary and ability to converse in a new language.
If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

MasterFILE Premier: Designed specifically for public libraries, this multidisciplinary database provides full text for nearly 1,750 general reference publications with full text information dating as far back as 1975. Covering virtually every subject area of general interest, MasterFILE Premier also contains full text for nearly 500 reference books and 164,424 primary source documents, as well as an Image Collection of over 453,000 photos, maps & flags. This database is updated daily. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

Overdrive This digital media outlet provides access to eAudibooks and eBooks anytime, anywhere! All you need is a computer or other device with an Internet connection and your Des Plaines Valley Public Library District library card in good standing to login to the service online. Take the guided tour if you're new to downloadable books, or visit the help section to see a list of compatible audio or ebook devices. Ask your librarian for more information!

Novelist Plus: This is a database of fiction and non-fiction news and reviews. It includes book-talks, discussions, and the ability to find new authors similar to your favorite authors. Searching is possible by author, title, series, reading level, and key words from the plot. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

Novelist K-8 Plus: This is a database of fiction and non-fiction news and reviews for children Kindergarten through 8th grade. It includes book-talks, discussions, and the ability to find new authors similar to your favorite authors. Searching is possible by author, title, series, reading level, and key words from the plot. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center: This database is the premier full-text resource covering today’s hottest social issues, bringing together all the information that’s needed to fully understand an issue: pro and con viewpoint articles, reference articles that provide context, full-text magazines, academic journals, and newspapers, primary source documents, government and organizational statistics, multimedia, including images and podcasts, links to hand-selected web sites, and more! If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter the first four digits of your library card number to obtain access.

Pop Culture Universe: Is an authoritative digital library of information on American and world popular culture, past and present. This database includes the best of movies, TV shows, awards, stars, fads, buzzwords, fashion, and news that defined each decade It includes a Skills Center with research tutors, interactive wizards, lesson plans, and full-text professional titles to support research at schools and universities. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter the first five digits of your library card number to obtain access.

Public Records Electronic Database: This database compiles public information from Cook, Will, and surrounding counties. It includes new homeowners and mortgages, new business licenses and incorporations, tax liens, and Tax Sales for Property as well as foreclosures and bankruptcies. All of this information is compiled into one database that can be searched with as much detail as you like. You will need to enter in the first five digits of your library card number to obtain access to this great resource. For additional public records help, please visit the Illinois Public Record website.

ReferenceUSA: This database contains details of more than 12 million businesses and 120 million consumer households in the United States, and an additional three modules are updated weekly: U.S. New Movers, U.S. New Businesses, and U.S. New Homeowners. Used by job seekers, job changers, small business owners, genealogists, researchers, home buyers and sellers and market researchers, ReferenceUSA is useful for finding people and businesses by name, type, income, address, phone number, home value, mortgage amount, and this is just to name a few search options! This database can also be used to compile brief business mailing lists using business size, number of employees, location, and industry as criteria, and contains a wealth of information useful for company profiling, market research, sales planning, and lead generation. See some sample searches here.
If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number to obtain access.

Regional Business News: This database provides comprehensive full text coverage for regional business publications. Regional Business News incorporates coverage of more than 80 regional business publications covering all metropolitan and rural areas within the United States. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter your library card number to obtain access to this great resource.

Science Resource Center: The perfect tool for science students. Science Resource Center includes over 40 science titles and full-text articles from 200 science magazines. The database can be searched or browsed through the subject index. Individual articles can be e-mailed or printed to have the information available at any time. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter the first four digits of your library card number to obtain access.

Virtual Reference Library: This resource is a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference books for all kind of different subjects such as History, Business, and Health. These reference materials once were accessible only in the library, but now you can access them online from the library or remotely 24/7. If you are not at either of the library's locations when you click on the link above you will be asked to enter the first four digits of your library card number to obtain access.