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.

Background Information

*Biography Resource Center »
Find articles that tell the stories of famous people from all countries and all time periods. Search by name or create lists of people based on certain characteristics: what they do (or did) for a living, what country they are from, what American ethnic group they belong to (for example, African American), and whether they are male or female.

CQ Researcher plus Archive »
CQ Researcher offers authoritative background essays on the topics making today's headlines. In addition, older reports going back to 1923 offer users the ability to track how debates have changed over time. This is an excellent starting place for students working on assignments requiring them to take a position on a topic or for anyone wanting straightforward overviews of the issues confronting our society.

*CultureGrams »
Use CultureGrams: World Edition to find out how people live in one hundred ninety different countries and territories. What do they wear? How do they greet each other? What are the rules for dating? When do they go shopping? Find recipes and lists of famous people for all covered countries and territories and photographs for selected ones.

"...for Students" Literary Criticism Collection »
Find information to better help you understand the plays, novels, poetry, and short stories most read by students. For each covered work, you'll find an author biography, plot summary, list of characters, and a discussion of work's themes, style, and historical context in addition to an overview of critical approaches to the work and selected critical essays.

*History Database Search »
Use this database to find short overview articles on a wide range of historical events and processes. Also includes biographies, timelines, primary sources, images, maps, and charts.

Issues & Controversies »
Issues & Controversies presents overviews of current public policy issues and other controversial topics. This resource is a great place to start for students working on persuasive essays or debates or anyone wanting authoritative background information on the issues making today’s headlines.

Literary Reference Center »
Researching papers for English class is a snap with Literary Reference Center. Find author biographies, plot summaries, character information, critical essays, book reviews, and overviews of literary topics. Search by keyword or, if unsure of the spelling of an author's name or title, browse lists of authors and works.

MedlinePlus »
MedlinePlus in Spanish » en español
MedlinePlus offers overviews and news on a wide range of health topics, from specific diseases and conditions to topics such as teen health, teenage pregnancy, teen sexual health, and alcohol and youth. Get answers that you can trust to personal questions and reliable information for homework assignments on health topics.

New Book of Popular Science »
Find detailed introductions to topics in science in this science encyclopedia for students in grades six and up. Additional features of this site include news articles, projects, biographies, games, weekly constellation maps, and more.

Nueva Enciclopedia Cumbre » en español
This online encyclopedia offers general overview articles in Spanish. Also included is an "Aula de español" that offers learning activities for those studying Spanish.

*Science Online »
Use this database to find supplemental information for the study of science. Find encyclopedia articles and definitions, charts and illustrations, experiments, biographies, and timelines.

Teen Reference Collection »
This online collection of encyclopedias and other reference books contains short overview articles on topics in geography, health, history, political science, technology, and more.

World Book for Students »
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.

Magazine and Newspapers

AP Images »
Looking for a photo of a famous person or event? Find newspaper photos from the late nineteenth century to the present as well as other images from the Associated Press (AP), an agency that supplies photographs, news articles, etc., to newspapers throughout the world. You'll also find charts, graphs, timelines, and maps (More Media > Print Graphics) that are great for reports or presentations on contemporary issues.

Alt-Press Watch »
Find newspapers, magazines, and journals representing a wide range of viewpoints from the alternative and independent press. Chicago-based publications in the collection include Catalyst Chicago, Disclosure, In These Times, and the Chicago Reader.

Ethnic NewsWatch »
Find articles from magazines and newspapers read by ethnic minorities (for example, Asian Americans) in the United States. Includes both English- and Spanish-language publications.

*JuniorQuest Magazines »
Search for magazine articles from a collection of magazines chosen especially for upper elementary and high school students.

*ProQuest Newspapers »
Find newspaper articles from over 30 newspapers going back to 1980. Newspapers in the collection include the Chicago Defender, Chicago Tribune, New York Times, and USA Today.

SIRS Researcher »
SIRS Researcher includes magazine and newspaper articles as well as other documents on social, scientific, health, historic, economic, political, and global issues specifically chosen for upper elementary and high school students. The Leading Issues pages are particularly helpful for students writing a persuasive essay or preparing for a debate.

Test Prep

LearningExpressLibrary »
LearningExpressLibrary allows one to practice taking standardized tests, including high school entrance exams, ACT, SAT, and ASVAB. "Diagnostic" exams that help one figure out what areas he or she needs improvement in and practice tests in reading, writing, vocabulary, spelling, and math are also included.
When registering, use your library card number as your username.

Find a Good Book to Read

Fiction Connection »
Find novels and short story collections of interest based on such characteristics as topic, genre (for example, mystery or fantasy books), location, time period, character, etc. Users can also look up a book they've liked in the past and find others like it based on the characteristics listed above. Includes both young adult and adult titles.

NoveList »
Find a new novel to read by picking what types of people should be in the story, what happens in the story, and where and when the story takes place. Like Fiction Connection, NoveList allows users to look up a book they've enjoyed in the past and find others similar to it. NoveList also offers numerous lists of award-winning titles for teens as well as more general lists of graphic novels, romances, mysteries, etc.

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