Online Databases with Descriptions

Below is detailed list of searchable databases available for use at the library or from home. Click if you would like to view an alphabetical list.

AtoZdatabases
Premier Reference and Marketing Databases including 30 million business profiles & 220 million residents. Ideal for sales leads, mailing lists, market research, employment opportunities, finding friends and relatives, and much more!

AncestryLibrary.com
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.

America's Newspapers
A newspaper database which enables you to search for new and archived articles from the: Chicago Tribune (1985-Current), Chicago Sun-Times (1986-Current), Southtown Star (11/18/07-Current) and the Daily Southtown (7/31/04-11/17/07). Access from home is available by entering the barcode from your Palos Heights Public Library card.

Books & Authors
This new database offers a wealth of information for the avid reader. Looking for a good book, but not sure where to start? Who, What, Where, When lets you browse by Character, Subject, Location and Time Period, and gives you a visual representation of your matching books. Another feature is the "Read-A-like Wizard". This search is designed to help you find a good book based on its similarity to one of your favorites. Browse by title, author, or genres and sort by reading level. Search Award winners, Expert picks, and Librarian picks if you are looking for reading suggestions. You can also set up your own account, in My Reading Room. You will need a Palos Heights Library card number to access the database.

Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune (1849-1985) offers full page and article images with searchable full text back to the first issue. The collection includes digital reproductions providing access to every page from every available issue. Usename: phpl, password: phpl.

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.

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.

CultureGrams Online
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.

FirstSearch
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. Authorization: 100109095 | Password: palos2008

Gale Virtual Reference
A group of 30 databases 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. You will need your library card number and the password is your last name.

Grolier
Online version of Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, which is a reference resource for students from elementary to high school.

Heritage Quest Online
A genealogy database that enables 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.

Homework Help Illinois (or Tutor.com)
Connects users to Live Homework HelpR, an online tutoring service that links students in grades K-12, those in introductory-level college courses, and adult learners to expert tutors (at no charge) in math, science, social studies, and English via the Internet. This service is available seven days a week, from 2pm to 9pm. Login by using your Palos Heights Library card number.

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

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

Learning Express Library
Each Learning Centers offers practice test, exercises, skill building courses and information you need to achieve the results you want - at school, at work, or in life. You can also find an entire Learning Center dedicated to helping you get the one that's right for you.

LexisNexis Library Express
Provides access to over 6,000 individual sources that includes: News - Over 1,000 national, regional, and international news publications; Business - LexisNexis Company Dossier provides coverage of over 44 million U.S. and international companies, with data drawn from over 60 sources; Legal Research - Primary source material includes case law, statutes and regulations; secondary source materials contain legal news and law reviews Biographical Information - From both consumer press as well as Biographical Directories.

Literature Resource 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.

Morningstar
Provides investment research, including stock and fund analysis, reports, and tools, as well as company, investing and financial news.

Novelist
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.

Physicians Desk Reference PDR
Offers helathcare information for consumers.

Shmoop ACT and SAT Test Prep
Shmoop provides on-line ACT and SAT test prep and is FREE to Palos Heights card holders. Find your writing groove, print out flash cards and many more on-line tools to help you succeed. Understand how lit and history are relevant today. We want to show your brain a good time. You can create an account by visiting www.shmoop.com/signup/palos-heights and entering your library card number.

SIRS
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 emailed. This is a wonderful resource fro student research projects.

Something about the Author
This online version of the print reference series covers the lives and works of authors for children and teens. Find out more information about authors including personal information, awards and honors, works and quotes. A great resource for author reports. You will need a Palos Heights Library card number to access the database.

SWAN
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.

TumbleBooks Library
TumbleBook Library is a collection of TumbleBooks (animated, talking picture books). TumbleBooks are created from existing picture books which we have licensed from children's book publishers and converted to the TumbleBook format. [user name: palosheights password: libra]

Value Line Research Center
Value Line is the most trusted and prestigious name in the investment field. For more than seventy-five years Value Line has been synonymous with trust, reliability, objectivity, independence, accurate information and proven performance for investors.

           Value Line Survey Current Issue
           Publication as it appears weekly.

           Value Line Company Reports
           Company name, Ticker or Industry Lookup Tool.

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 source (e.g. eyewitness accounts speeches, supreme court rulings, and treaties.)