Research Tools

Below is detailed list of searchable databases available for use at the library or from home.


AGRICOLA


Containing bibliographic records from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Library, AGRICOLA provides millions of citations relating to the field of agriculture. Citations are comprised of journal articles, book chapters, theses, patents, software, audiovisual materials and technical reports to support agricultural research.

Academic Search Elite


This resource provides full-text scholarly content for major college courses. Designed specifically for academic institutions, this database provides full-text and peer-reviewed journals essential for undergraduate and graduate studies.

Amazing Animals


Amazing Animals is now part of Scholastic Go! Use this new service to search for information about all of the species of animals.

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.
Tutorial for AncestryLibrary.com

AtoZ Databases


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

Auto Repair Source


This database contains do-it-yourself repair and maintenance information on most major manufacturers of domestic and imported vehicles. New repair procedures, TSBs and updates are added to the product on a regular basis. All of the content has been created by ASE certified technicians.
Tutorial for Auto Repair Source

Biography Reference Source


Biography Reference Source provides superior coverage for several of the most popular and heavily researched biographies and genres, including those contained within Biography Today and Biography (both dating back to the first issue published).

Biography Reference Source eBook Collection


Biography Reference Source provides thousands of unique and reliable full-text biographies, including the complete full text of Biography and Biography Today. In addition to keyword search, users can locate biographies by subject occupation, activity, nationality, gender, birthplace and more.

Book Collection: Non-Fiction


Book Collection: Nonfiction is a cross-curricular database providing abstracts and searchable full text for thousands of popular nonfiction books. Designed for public libraries, it covers core subject areas as well as information on careers, health, sports, adventure, technology, life skills and more.

Business Source Elite


Business Source Premier is the industry's most popular business research database, featuring the full text for more than 2,200 journals. Full text is provided back to 1965, and searchable cited references back to 1998.


ConsumerReports.org


The largest paid-publication subscription-based website in the world, this resource enables consumers to make better purchasing decisions on the products they are shopping for. Whether a user is looking to find the best deal on an LCD TV, or researching the top-recommended used vehicles, ConsumerReports.org provides ratings and reviews, recommendations and buying advice for thousands of products and services.
Tutorial for ConsumerReports.org

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.
Tutorial for CultureGrams Online

Digital Public Library of America


The Digital Public Library of America brings together the riches of America’s libraries, archives, and museums, and makes them freely available to the world. It strives to contain the full breadth of human expression, from the written word, to works of art and culture, to records of America’s heritage, to the efforts and data of science.

Driver Education Program


Free DMV Practice Tests. 10 car practice tests, 6 motorcycle practice tests, 1 CDL (Commercial Driver's License) practice test, 2 online driver's manual (car and motorcycle) and an FAQ section with detailed answers to 100+ DMV-related questions.

EBSCO Business eBook Collection


Thousands of e-books dedicated to the study of business. From conducting business research to helping students understand general business concepts, this collection offers the in-demand titles for your business needs.

EBSCO Cricket Media eBook Collection


Build strong literacy skills in students from pre-K to 8th grade with digital access to award-winning, short-form fiction and nonfiction titles by Cricket Media. This unique e-book collection explores a wide range of subjects to help young readers explore and expand their worlds.

EBSCO Diversity & Ethnic Studies eBook Collection


This groundbreaking collection includes thousands of high-quality e-books assessed by EBSCO Collection Development Librarians on the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion from more than 230 publishers.

EBSCO High School eBook Collection


A collection of classic literary works, important historical documents, and general reference materials geared towards high school students and educators.

EBSCO K-5 eBook Collection


This multidisciplinary collection offers access to thousands of juvenile fiction and non-fiction eBooks. These eBooks support a quality learning experience for K-5 students across a wide range of academic subjects.

EBSCO 6-8 Grade eBook Collection


This multidisciplinary collection offers access to thousands of juvenile fiction and non-fiction e-books. These e-books support a quality learning experience for students in grades 6-8, across a wide range of academic subjects.

EBSCO K-8 eBook Collection


This multidisciplinary collection offers access to thousands of juvenile fiction and non-fiction e-books. These e-books support a quality learning experience for students in grades K-8, across a wide range of academic subjects.

EBSCO Public Library eBook Collection


Access high-quality e-books covering a wide range of topics such as self-help, fitness, games, hobbies and cooking. This general reference e-book collection features titles for both adults and juveniles, as well as best-selling and recommended titles from leading publishers.

ERIC


ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) is an authoritative database of indexed and full-text education literature and resources. Sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education, it is an essential tool for education researchers of all kinds.

Ethnic Diversity Source


This full-text database is a dedicated resource covering the culture, traditions, social treatment and lived experiences of different ethnic groups in America. It provides full text from a growing list of sources including peer-reviewed journals, magazines, newspapers, e-books, biographies and primary source documents.

Health Source: Consumer Edition


This rich collection of consumer health information provides access to full-text consumer health magazines. It also includes searchable full text for current health pamphlets.

Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition


A trusted full-text database covering nursing and allied health topics, including pediatric nursing, critical care, mental health, nursing management, medical law and more.

History Reference eBook Collection


Covering topics in U.S. and world history from the earliest civilizations through the 21st century, History Reference eBook Collection is a research database containing full-text journals, magazines, reference books and thousands of primary source documents.
Tutorial for History Reference eBook Collection

Hobbies and Crafts Source


How-tos and creative ideas in arts and crafts, collecting, home and garden, indoor recreation, kids' crafts, model building, needlecrafts and textiles, outdoor recreation, performing arts, science and technology, and scrapbooking and papercrafts.
Tutorial for Hobbies and Crafts Source

Home Improvement Source


Through a collection of comprehensive full-text content, this database provides users with detailed, user-friendly “how-to” information covering all manner of home improvement/repair projects. Home Improvement Reference Center features full-text content from leading home improvement magazines images not found anywhere else online, and videos of popular home repair projects. All of the content is organized in a powerful, easy-to-use manner so that users can quickly gain the information they need.

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.

LearningExpress


Each Learning Center 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.<br>*Please note: URL has changed and you must re-register to use this source.

Legal Source


Resources to assist you in legal matters of all kinds, including business law, financial planning, family law, property and real estate, and rights and disputes. Includes full text reference books from Nolo, the nation’s oldest and most respected provider of legal information for consumers and small businesses.

LGBTQ+ Source


LGBTQ+ Source is the definitive database for LGBTQ+ studies. It provides scholarly and popular LGBTQ+ publications in full text, plus historically important primary sources, including monographs, magazines, newspapers and videos. It also includes a specialized LGBTQ+ thesaurus containing thousands of terms.

Literary Reference eBook Collection


Literary Reference Source is a rich full-text literary database covering all genres and time periods. It includes thousands of synopses, critical essays, book reviews, literary journals and author biographies, plus full-text classic novels, short stories and poems.

MAS Complete


Designed for high school students, MAS Complete is a research database that contains full text for hundreds of popular magazines and e-books covering news, politics, science, sports, culture and more. It also includes thousands of full-text primary source documents and videos from the Associated Press.

MasterFILE Complete


Designed specifically for public libraries, this database provides full-text magazines, reference books and primary source documents. It also includes an extensive image collection containing photos, maps and flags.

Middle Search Plus


Resources to support middle school students, including biographies, magazines, primary source documents, photos, maps, and flags. Includes Sports Illustrated Kids, Scholastic News, National Geographic and dozens more. Articles include reading level indicators (Lexile).

Newspaper Source Plus


Newspaper Source Plus provides cover-to-cover full text for hundreds of national (U.S.), international and regional newspapers. In addition, it offers television and radio news transcripts from major networks.

NoveList


Created especially for people who love books, NoveList Plus is the premier online database for reading recommendations, available through libraries around the world. Helping readers of all ages find just the right book to read, this comprehensive source of popular and professional book information includes expert recommendations, reviews, articles, lists and more.
Tutorial for NoveList

NoveList K-8


NoveList K-8 helps you find just the right book for young readers.
Tutorial for NoveList K-8

Points of View Reference Center


Containing resources that present multiple sides of an issue, this database provides rich content that can help students assess and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues and develop analytical thinking skills.
Tutorial for Points of View Reference Center

Primary Search


Resources to support elementary school students, including encyclopedias specifically for kids, articles from children's magazines including Highlights and Junior Scholastic, and a large image collection.


Pronunciator


Pronunciator is a fun and free way to learn any of 315 languages with Personalized Courses, movies, chat, and more.

Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection


Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection is an essential full-text database for psychologists, counselors, researchers and students. It provides hundreds of full-text psychology journals, including many indexed in APA PsycInfo. It offers particularly strong coverage in child and adolescent psychology and counseling.

Regional Business News


Regional Business News provides full-text regional business publications for the United States and Canadian provinces. Users can search newspapers, magazines and other resources from trusted news sources.


Religion & Philosophy Collection


Religion & Philosophy Collection is an essential full-text database for theology and philosophy research. It includes hundreds of full-text journals and magazines covering many religious and philosophical topics, including world religions, religious history, political philosophy and philosophy of language.

Scholastic Go


Scholastic Go! is an online encyclopedia and news magazine designed with different entry points for elementary, middle and high school students. Includes links to other web sites, clickable maps, and dictionaries.

Science Reference Source


A comprehensive research database that provides easy access to a multitude of full-text, science-oriented content. Science Reference Center contains full text for hundreds of science encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals and other sources. Topics covered include biology, chemistry, earth and space science, environmental science, health and medicine, history of science, life science, physics, science and society, science as inquiry, scientists, technology and wildlife.
Tutorial for Science Reference Source

Small Business Source


Small Business Source offers exclusive full text for many top consumer small business reference books, as well as tools to understand and address a wide variety of small business topics. The database includes business videos, case studies, help and advice, a start-up kit and tips for writing business plans.

Small Engine Repair Source


This reference database provides detailed, user-friendly repair guides for all manner of small engines, from motorcycles and ATVs to generators and outdoor power equipment.

Tuition Funding Sources


Tuition Funding Sources is a private website designed to help students find scholarships, college and career information. TFS offers students the largest scholarship database in the world with over $41 Billion in scholarship awards along with a career personality test and detailed college and career information.

TumbleBook Cloud


TBC is a collection of videos and chapter books in categories which include: Ebooks (Shakespeare, poetry, non-fiction, science, history, geography, etc.), Read-Alongs, Graphic Novels, Videos (from National Geographic!), and Audio Books. Our books feature adjustable text sizes, full narration, and a read-along function which highlights text as it is read. As a subscriber, you have access to lesson plans, quizzes and our Common Core Portal! These features make TBC a great tool for reluctant readers and ESL students. Plus, all these options can be switched to manual so readers can read at their own pace. If you aren't automatically logged in, the username is: palosheights and the password is: login.
Tutorial for TumbleBook Cloud

TumbleBook 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: <em>palosheights</em> password: <em>libra</em>.
Tutorial for TumbleBook Library

Tutor.com / Homework Help Illinois


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.
Tutorial for Tutor.com / Homework Help Illinois

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.
Tutorial for Value Line Research Center

Vocational &amp; Career Collection


Designed to meet a wide variety of vocational and technical research needs, this database provides full-text coverage for trade and industry-related periodicals for high schools, community colleges, trade institutions and the general public.

World Book Encyclopedia


This database includes both the World Book Encyclopedia and Research Libraries. Many documents are primary source (e.g. eyewitness accounts speeches, Supreme Court rulings, treaties.) Downloadable versions of classic books are also available through this source.
Tutorial for World Book Encyclopedia