SWAN - is our online card catalog. Use SWAN to locate items in our collection and the collections of many Metropolitan Library System libraries. You may place holds, check your account and renew materials through the SWAN catalog. Click on My Account and enter your name, the barcode from your library card and create a PIN (Personal Identification Number) for yourself.

FirstSearch - is a group of 14 databases which helps you locate periodical articles, books, and conference proceedings. Seven of the databases have full-text articles available: ABI Inform, PeriodicalAbstracts, ArticleFirst, ECO, ERIC, MEDLINE and WilsonSelectPlus. Illinois residents may access FirstSearch from home through the internet. Call the library at 708-448-1473 for the authorization and password.

Gale Virtual Reference - is a database delivering reference content in a database format. Many of the reference books that have been found in the library may now be accessed from home. When asked for a password, please use 'remote'.

NoveList - is a fiction database that provides reviews, annotations and subject descriptions to over 135,000 fiction titles. Author Read-alikes, Book Discussion Guides and Book Talks are part of this resource as well as Picture Book Extenders for teachers.

I-Share - is the online catalog that includes the resources of 65 Illinois libraries belonging to CARLI, the Consortium of Academic & Research Libraries in Illinois. Materials found in I-Share can be interlibrary loaned by contacting the library.

EBSCOHost - is a reference database collecting articles from hundreds of magazines, newspapers and journals. Many of the articles are found in full-text and can be printed or emailed. There is also a health information database.

Literature Reference Center - offers a wealth of information including criticisms, biographies, bibliographies, articles and reading lists covering the world of literature. The LRC is a great resource for students and book discussion leaders. Access this resource from home with the barcode from your Palos Heights Public Library card.

CultureGrams Online - is a database that provides great information about countries throughout the world from what they eat and wear to climate and government. It is especially useful for students and travelers. The login is palos and the password is cgrams.

Newsbank - is a newspaper database which enables you to search for new and archived articles from the: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and the Daily Southtown. Access from home is available by entering the barcode from your Palos Heights Public Library card.

Reference USA - is a residential and business telephone directory for the United States available at the library. Reference USA can only be accessed in the library.

SIRS - is a general reference database containing thousands of full-text articles and graphics exploring social, scientific, health, historic, business, and political issues. Articles can be printed, saved or e-mailed. This is a wonderful resource for student research projects

World Book Encyclopedia - contains the World Book Encyclopedia and Research Libraries. The Research Libraries contains over 5,500 complete books and 260,000 documents. Many of these documents are primary sources (e.g. eyewitness accounts, speeches, supreme court rulings, and treaties.)

Code of Ordinances - provides the Code of Ordinances for the city of Palos Heights. A print version of the Code of Ordinances is available at the library.

COG, the Community Organization Guide - is designed to list non-profit organizations and agencies of the South Suburban Chicago area. The COG provides access to information about more than 600 community organizations and educational, cultural, recreational and social service agencies which provide a wide array of support and assistance to people of all ages and interests.

AncestryLibrary.com - has more than one and a half billion names in over 4,000 databases. It includes records from the United States Census; military records; court, land and probate records; vital and church records; directories; passenger lists; and more. This can only be accessed in the library.

Heritage Quest Online - is a genealogy database that enablees you to search over 25,000 local history books, the U.S. Federal Census from 1790-1930, PERSI, and the Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files. When accessing Heritage Quest from home, you will be asked to type in the barcode from your library card to confirm you are a Palos Heights Public Library patron.

IRS on the Web - Get tax forms and information from the IRS website.

Consumer Reports - provides online all of the product information available in the magazine. Visit the library or call 708-448-1473 for the login information for complete access.