Quick Search

Individual Databases

Unless otherwise noted, these resources are available at all Chicago Public Library locations and from home, school, or work with a Chicago Public Library card.

Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos » en español
The Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos offers encyclopedia articles in Spanish for students in grades two through six. The encyclopedia's list of articles may be browsed in English as well as Spanish, though the articles are entirely in Spanish.

Gale Virtual Reference Library »
Search a collection of over 100 subject-specific encyclopedias. Encyclopedias in the collection include the Dictionary of American History, Encyclopedia of Business and Finance, Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion, Encyclopedia of Education, Encyclopedia of Food and Culture, Encyclopedia of Human Development, Encyclopedia of Religion, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Gale Encyclopedia of Science, Schirmer Encyclopedia of Film, and West's Encyclopedia of American Law.

Nueva Enciclopedia Cumbre » en español
La Nueva Enciclopedia Cumbre offers Spanish-speaking students in grades six and up as well as adults a general-purpose encyclopedia. Included are timelines and an atlas as well as an "Aula de español" that provides learning activities for students of the Spanish language.

Oxford English Dictionary »
The Oxford English Dictionary is an authoritative source for definitions of English words and phrases as they have been used over time and throughout the world. Descriptive rather than prescriptive, it aims to present the English language as it is actually used rather than how it ought to be used. Entries include pronunciations (using the International Phonetic Alphabet), etymologies, definitions, and quotations from actual sources.

World Book for Adults »
World Book for Adults (World Book Online Reference Center) offers more than 40,000 encyclopedia articles, as well as an online atlas, an introduction to computers and the Internet, and "how to..." guides to help you understand basic concepts in employment, personal finance, and more.
Temporarily available only on CPL computers. Remote users: use World Book for Students.

World Book for Kids » kid friendly
Find short, easy-to-read introductions to thousands of topics as well as maps, pictures, games, word definitions, and more. Based on the World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia, this online encyclopedia is a great fit for students in grades two through five.

*World Book for Students » kid friendly teen pick
World Book for Students (World Book Online Info Finder) offers more than 40,000 encyclopedia articles, as well as an online atlas, an online dictionary, research tools, and more. Recommended for students in grades three and up.

In addition to the above databases, content from subject-specific encyclopedias and dictionaries (for example, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms) may be found in the following topical resources: Amazing Animals, American National Biography, Biography Resource Center, History Database Search, New Book of Popular Science, Oxford African American Studies Center, Oxford Art Online, Oxford Music Online, and Science Online.

* - indicates that the database is included in the Quick Search above.