Databases & reference

Research everything from genealogy to product reviews, get career help, consult reference databases, and more.

Reviews & recommendations

Consumer Reports

Making a big purchase? Consult Consumer Reports for product ratings, reviews, recommendations, brand reliability, and buying advice.

Novelist

Find your next read with Novelist. Looking for a good fiction or nonfiction book? Search by subject, plot summary, grade level, and more.

Novelist K-8

Find reading suggestions for picture books, children’s chapter books, and young adult titles. Search or browse by subject, plot summary, grade level, and more.

Hobbies & how-to

Ancestry (in-Library only)

Search 4,000 genealogical and local history databases for information on over 4 billion names.

Auto Repair Source

Find repair information and schedules, diagrams, parts and labor estimates, service alerts, and recalls for thousands of domestic and imported vehicles.

Creativebug

Enjoy more than 1,000 online art & craft video classes taught by designers and artists. Creativebug’s classes cover everything from drawing and sketching to sewing and bookbinding.

Fold3

Fold3 provides convenient access to US military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of those who served.

Hobbies and Crafts Source

This database includes arts & crafts; games & electronics; models; needlework; outdoors & nature; and scrapbooking & paper craft.

Home Improvement Source

Learn about maintenance, remodeling, electrical work, plumbing, wood projects, outdoor improvements, decorating, home & garden, etc.

Small Engine Repair Source

Find repair and maintenance guides for small engines, including lawn mowers, motorcycles, tractors, and snowmobiles.

Business & career

AtoZ Databases

AtoZdatabases is ideal for sales leads, mailing lists, market research, and employment opportunities. Research companies, search for the perfect job, and access resume templates and interview tools.

Business Source Elite

This database includes top business, management, and economics journals and periodicals, covering topics such as accounting, banking, finance, international business, marketing, sales and more.

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Peterson’s Test and Career Prep

Prepare for academic and career-related tests, from the SAT and graduate entrance exams to vocational tests like NCLEX and ASVAB. You can also research college and career options, search for financial aid, and get help with resume building.

Record Information Services

This database includes lists of new homeowners, new businesses, foreclosures and sales, and bankruptcies in DuPage, Cook, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.

Small Business Source

Find information on all aspects of starting and operating a business, including accounting, human resources, management, marketing, tax, and more. State-specific information is included.

Udemy

Improve your skills and explore new interests with Gale Presents: Udemy, an online learning platform offering on-demand, professionally-taught video courses in business, technology, design, and more.

Reference & research

Alt Health Watch

Find information on complementary, holistic, and integrated approaches to healthcare and wellness. Sources include journals (some peer-reviewed) and reports.

Health Source Consumer Edition

Get health information on topics including fitness, nutrition, diabetes, aging, women’s health, children’s health, and more. Sources include magazines, books, Clinical Reference System reports, and pamphlets.

Download thousands of legal forms by topic, including Bankruptcy, Divorce, Name Changes, Wills & Estate Planning and more. Most of the full text legal reference books provided through NOLO.

Salem Press Online

Access digital copies of Salem Press titles owned by the Westmont Public Library. Titles range from scholarly critiques of notable authors and works to historical examination of American life.

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TeachingBooks

TeachingBooks provides resources for children’s and young adult books, selected to encourage the integration of multimedia author and book materials into reading and library activities for K-12 students.

Value Line

Find extensive financial and statistical data from independent analysts. Includes recent news and analysis, plus educational tools and information on building an investment portfolio.

More databases

Access to these databases is provided through the Office of the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library.

Databases A – F

A

  • Academic Search Elite — Designed for academic institutions. Comprehensive, multi-disciplinary resource of scholarly research. Coverage on a wide range of topics. Includes peer-reviewed full text resources for subjects such as adult education, higher education, public health, and more.
  • AGRICOLA — From the National Agricultural Library. Contains citations about all aspects of agriculture and related fields. Includes: journal articles, monographs, proceedings, theses, patents, translations, audiovisual materials, computer software, and technical reports.

B

  • Biography Reference Center — More than 390,000 biographies. Includes complete full text run of Biography Today and Biography Magazine as well as thousands of narrative biographies.
  • Biography Reference eBook Subscription — A companion to the Biography Reference Source database, this encompasses a rich selection of biographic titles, covering popular and important figures in business, film, history, music, politics, sports and more.
  • Book Collection: Nonfiction — Designed for public libraries, thousands of books cover core subject areas as well as information on careers, health, sports, adventure, technology, life skills and more.

E

  • eBook Subscription Business Collection — Equip students and faculty with access to thousands of e-books dedicated to the study of business.
  • eBook Subscription Cricket Media Collection — Build strong literacy skills in students from pre-K to 8th grade by offering digital access to award-winning, short-form fiction and nonfiction titles.
  • eBook Subscription Diversity & Ethnic Studies — This groundbreaking collection includes over 6,000 high-quality ebooks on the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • eBook Subscription High School Collection — Give students, educators, and administrators on-the-go access to popular ebooks. This robust collection includes a selection of classic literary works, important historical documents, and general reference materials.
  • eBook Subscription K-5 Collection — This ebook collection supports a quality learning experience for K-5 students across all subject areas taught in elementary and middle schools.
  • eBook Subscription 6-8 Collection — This ebook collection supports a quality learning experience for grades 6-8 students across all subject areas taught in elementary and middle schools.
  • eBook Subscription K-8 Collection — This ebook collection supports a quality learning experience for K-8 students across all subject areas taught in elementary and middle schools.
  • eBook Subscription Public Library Collection — Access to high-quality ebooks 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.
  • ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) — Index of journal articles, books, theses, curriculum guides, conference papers, standards, and guidelines on a wide range of education topics. Sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education.
  • 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.
Databases G – L

H

  • Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition — Provides researchers, allied health professionals, nurses, and medical educators access to scholarly journals on many medical disciplines. Provides indexing, abstracts, and full text for hundreds of nursing and allied health journals, many of which are peer reviewed.
  • History Reference Center — Covering topics in U.S. and world history from the earliest civilizations through the 21st century, this database contains full-text journals, magazines, reference books and thousands of primary source documents.
  • History Reference eBook Subscription — A companion to the History Reference Source database, this contains a rich selection of historical titles, covering global topics from the ancient world through today.

L

  • LearningExpress — Supports those looking to improve core academic skills, pass a high school equivalency test, prepare for college, explore careers, join the military, study for occupational certification tests, become a U.S. citizen and much more. Contains practice tests, interactive tutorials, e-books, articles, and flashcards.
  • 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.
  • Library & Information Science Source — Journals and periodicals that help librarians and researchers keep pace with the latest trends in the field.
  • Literary Reference Source — 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.
  • Literary Reference eBook Subscription — Contains a broad range of literary-related subjects with selections including literary criticism, study guides, and classics such as Emma, Dracula, and Frankenstein.
Databases M – R

M

  • MAS Complete — Designed for high school libraries and offers coverage of popular high school magazines and reference books. Wide range of subjects offered including art, history, sports, and music. Over 1,000,000 photos, maps, and flags. Full text magazines include Discover, US News & World Report, Scientific American, and more.
  • MAS Reference eBook Subscription — This encompasses a rich selection of titles covering a broad range of general reference subjects, including biography, careers, language arts, literature, government, math, science, current events, and social-emotional health.
  • MasterFILE Complete — Broad collection of popular full-text magazines and reference books. Magazines include People, Better Homes and Gardens, TIME, and Newsweek. Covers subjects including business, health, education, fitness, sports and leisure, personal finance, general science, multicultural issues, DIY, and fashion. Also includes photos, maps, and flags.
  • MasterFILE Reference eBook Subscription — Contains reference books covering a broad range of general reference subjects, including biography, history, architecture, literature, cooking, health and wellness, science, self-help, religion, current events, sports, travel and more.
  • Middle Search Plus — Magazines and reference books for middle school students. Includes thousands of biographies and primary source documents. Subjects include history, current events, science, sports, and biographies. Also includes photos, maps, and flags.
  • Middle Search Reference eBook Subscription — A broad range of general reference subject coverage for middle school students, with topics including social studies, math, history, language arts, technology, geography, culture, and science.

P

  • Points of View Reference Center — Presents multiple sides of over 500 issues. Helps students assess and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues, and develop analytical thinking skills.
  • Primary Search — For elementary school libraries. Content from children’s magazines, easy-to-read encyclopedia entries, and images. Students can learn about animals, musicians, fitness, space exploration, and much more.
  • Primary Search Reference eBook Subscription — A range of general reference subject coverage for primary school students, with topics like social studies, history, language arts, geography, culture, math, and science.
  • Professional Development Collection — Specialized information for librarians, teachers, and education researchers.
  • Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection — Covers a broad range of subjects in the fields of psychology, behavioral sciences, and related disciplines. For psychologists, counselors, researchers, and students.

R

  • Regional Business News — Regional business publications for the United States and Canadian provinces from 1990. Includes newspapers, radio and television news transcripts, trade publications, magazines, and newswires.
  • Religion & Philosophy Collection — Hundreds of full-text journals and magazines covering many religious and philosophical topics, including world religions, religious history, political philosophy, and philosophy of language.
Databases S – Z

S

  • Science Reference Source — Provides full text for hundreds of science magazines, journals, reference books and high-quality videos. The database also contains science experiments, curriculum-aligned lesson plans, and a vast image collection.
  • Science Reference eBook Subscription — This encompasses a rich selection of titles covering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
  • Small Business Source eBook Subscription — Covers all aspects of starting and operating a business. Includes information on accounting, human resources, management, marketing, tax, and more. State-specific information included.