All of these databases are available for use in the library and most of them are available for use from home with your Forest Park Library Card. If you are having problems with a database, please contact us.
| Magazine & Newspaper Articles General Reference Education & Skills Development For Kids & Teens Public Records |
Library Catalogs Business & Consumer Information Literature & Reading Genealogy |
Magazine & Newspaper Articles
FirstSearch: A collection of academic and professional magazine and journal databases on specialized topics. Also includes WorldCat, a national catalog of books, audiovisual items, and other materials in libraries of all types.
Newsbank: Provides users with the full text of articles in all editions of the Chicago Tribune newspaper from 1985 to the present. Newsbank also includes the Chicago Tribune Redeye Edition from October 25, 2002 to the present, as well as numerous news magazine archives.
Forest Park Review: (in-library use only) Covers the years 1917- present. Not indexed.
Library Catalogs
SWAN: The Online Catalog of the Metropolitan Library System. Search the holdings of Forest Park Public Library and surrounding area libraries that share our catalog.
I-Share: Search the catalogs of 65 college libraries in Illinois.
WorldCat: A national catalog that includes over 57 million books, recordings, and audiovisual items in libraries of all types. Many of the items can be obtained for Forest Park Public Library cardholders through Interlibrary Loan.
General Reference
Credo Reference: A complete, searchable online reference collection of encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases and more. Its full-text content covers every major subject from the world's reference books.
Facts On File: Includes full text of the World News Digest and explores more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture.
Biography Resource Center: Biographical coverage for individuals in literature, science, business, entertainment, politics, sports, government, history, and the arts.
Contemporary Authors: Biographical information on authors with full-text articles.
Business & Consumer Information
Consumers’ Checkbook: (in-library use only) Just like Consumer Reports, only Chicago-specific. Find the best Chicago-area auto repair shops, electricians, long distance phone services, hotel rates, dentists, health clubs, cell phone services, and more!
ReferenceUSA: Includes a business database of over 12 million U.S. businesses and a residential database of over 100 million U.S. residential telephone numbers & addresses. A great resource for marketing or job searches.
Illinois Public Records: Find information about New Homeowners, New Businesses, Foreclosures & Auctions, and Bankruptcies in Illinois.
Education & Skills Development
Learning Express Library: Interactive test-prep, career and skills development materials for ESL, GED, ACT, postal worker, ASVAB, resume & cover letter writing, computer skills and more. Scoring is done online and you can work at your own pace.
ERIC: Journal articles and reports in education.
Literature & Reading
NoveList: A fiction database for readers of all ages and reading interests that provides reviews, annotations, and much more. Readers will find feature articles, Best Fiction and Author Read-Alike lists, links to authors' websites, and book discussion guides.
NoveList for Kids: Find fiction titles that are popular with young readers.
Contemporary Authors: An excellent student source for classroom research, homework and reports, as well as a great source for book clubs and general information on favorite authors.
For Kids & Teens
CultureGrams: Information on the cultures, geography and history of 190 countries, including maps, statistics and color photos. Username: fppl. Password: the first 5 digits on the back of your library card.
Facts On File: Includes full text of the World News Digest and explores more than 800 hot topics in business, politics, government, education, and popular culture.
NoveList for Kids: Find fiction titles that are popular with young readers.
Kids InfoBits: Designed to help elementary school students with the research process. It includes magazines, newspapers, and reference books on a wide range of topics.
Biography Resource Center: Biographical coverage for individuals in literature, science, business, entertainment, politics, sports, government, history, and the arts.
Contemporary Authors: Biographical information on authors with full-text articles.
Genealogy
Ancestry Library Edition: (in-library use only) Provides access to a number of genealogical and historical resources, including images of the decennial U.S. census from 1790-1930.
HeritageQuest Online: Genealogy information including 25,000 family and local history books, the entire U.S. Federal Census, PERSI (a comprehensive subject index covering more than 6,500 genealogy and local history periodicals), and other expanding collections.
Public Records
Illinois Public Records: Find information about New Homeowners, New Businesses, Foreclosures & Auctions, and Bankruptcies in Illinois.
