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Individual Databases

Use these resources on any Chicago Public Library computer or on non-Library computers with your Chicago Public Library card.

Chicago Sun-Times/SouthtownStar »
Find articles from the Chicago Sun-Times from 1986 to the present and the SouthtownStar (formerly the Daily Southtown) back to 2004.

EBSCO Magazines & Journals »
Find articles from general interest magazines and scholarly journals, including including Congressional Digest, Foreign Affairs and Illinois Issues.

Government, Law and Politics Reference Collection »
Search sources such as the Gale Encyclopedia of American Law, Encyclopedia of the American Constitution, National Survey of State Laws and Governments of the World. The collection includes several works (for example, Checks and Balances: The Three Branches of American Government) written especially for students.

Government Printing Office Monthly Catalog »
The Government Printing Office (GPO) Monthly Catalog helps users find publications of the U.S. government, including congressional reports, hearings, debates and records; materials produced by the federal courts and documents issued by other federal agencies. The database includes only short descriptions of each document, though most are available for use in the Government Publications Department at the Harold Washington Library Center and many are available for free online. Coverage begins in 1976.

Illinois Legal Aid »
Ayuda Legal Illinois » en español
Find information, including forms, to help you understand and solve legal problems. The site, offered in both English and Spanish, also provides listings of free legal clinics and attorney referral services.

ProQuest Congressional »
Anyone interested in learning more about contemporary policy issues, including students working on persuasive essays or debates, will benefit from ProQuest Congressional. The database contains a variety of congressional publications as well as Congressional Research Service reports (non-partisan policy and legal analyses written by Library of Congress staff).

ProQuest Newspapers »
Find articles from hundreds of newspapers and newsfeeds from around the world. Papers covered include the Chicago Defender, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald (Arlington Heights), State Journal Register (Springfield), New York Times, Washington Post, Globe and Mail (Canada), The Times (London), The Times of India and Daily Yomiuri (Japan). Coverage varies by title, with full text for some titles available as far back as the 1980s.

Thomas »
Thomas, a service of the Library of Congress, provides information about the activities of the U.S. Congress. Find the text of legislation along with summaries and status, voting records, the Congressional Record, committee reports and legislative actions on presidential nominations and treaties.