Online Library & Databases
Online resources for finding articles, useful websites, and research. Included are "online databases" that the library subscribes to provide well-researched, reliable, and authoritative sources of information on everything from car repair to genealogy. Not finding what you are looking for here? Contact the Reference Librarian using the contact form or calling 815-338-0542. Reference librarians are specially trained to search for all kinds of information.
Alphabetical Listing of Online Research Databases
Most of these databases require that you enter your 14 digit Woodstock library card number (21567...) before accessing, if you have any problems please contact a reference librarian using the Contact Us form or call 815-338-0542. Reference librarians are specially trained to search for all kinds of information.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE CHANGE-- Access for the Chicago Tribune is now provided by ProQuest, allowing complete searching of the newspaper from 1844-2011 in one search.
- AncestryLibrary (Genealogy - available within the library only)
- Chicago Tribune (ProQuest - Chicago Tribune from 1849 to current day's paper)
- Ebsco Databases (Download Audio & eBooks, Consumer Health, Literary Resource Center, MasterFile Elite, Automobile Repair Center)
- FirstSearch (WorldCat and multiple reference databases)
- Flickr (Historical Woodstock, Library and Staff Photographs )
- Gale Student Resource Center (Reference books, magazine, journal and newspaper articles)
- HeritageQuest (Genealogy)
- LearningExpress (Practice tests and eBooks)
- MyMediaMall (streaming video, eBooks, audiobooks)
- NetLibrary (eBooks, Audiobooks). NetLibrary is now owned by EBSCO - login using your Woodstock library card number, and select the Ebsco database that lists "download eBooks & audiobooks". First-time (and former NetLibrary users) will need to create a new Ebsco sign in to download books.
- NewsBank (Chicago Sun Times (from 1986+), regional Illinois newspapers, New York Times (2000+), Northwest Herald 2005+) If you get the a User Name & Password prompt then please copy and paste this URL into your address bar and click enter http://infoweb.newsbank.com/signin/WoodstockPublic
- Novelist and NovelistK8 (Series information, Lexile Codes, book and author recommendations)
- ReferenceUSA (company research). This link currently does not work using Firefox, please access using Internet Explorer. We are working on the problem.
- TumbleBooks (animated online books for children, in English, Spanish and French)
- World Book Reference Center (World Book Encyclopedia and more)
Consumer Help
Find product and auto reviews, shopping tips, information about recalls, and consumer-protection agencies.
Buying Guides & General Advice
- Consumer Reports: A lot of free and useful information is available, but a paid subscription is required for product reviews and ratings. For free access to Consumer Reports articles and other magazines go to the library's MasterFile Elite Database from Ebsco.
- ConsumerSearch: "Reviewing the reviews." Compiles and analyzes product reviews from magazines and websites. Great starting point.
- Epinions.com: Products rated by people who bought them.
Cars & Trucks
- Car & Driver: Includes the magazine's road tests and reviews, interactive vehicle comparisons, and Kelley Blue Book values.
- Edmunds.com: Reviews, comparisons, price and value information, and tips for buying new or used vehicles.
- The Truth About Cars: Detailed reviews, written with a sense of humor.
Consumer Protection & Complaints
- AnnualCreditReport.com: The place to get a no-obligation, free copy of your credit report from all three major reporting companies.
- Better Business Bureau: Includes complaints against companies, fraud alerts, and general tips.
- Consumer Protection Division: Part of the Illinois Attorney General's office.
- Recalls.gov: Product recalls and safety information from the federal government.
Download Books and AudioBooks
The Woodstock Public Library offers several sources for downloadable eBooks and audiobooks.
MyMediaMall (OverDrive eBoo
ks and audiobooks) Most of the MMM books are compatible with Apple devices.
- Download the OverDrive Media Console on to your PC or Mac.
- Browse the MMM collection to find titles you may be interested in, click on "Add to Cart" when you find a book to download. You may see "Place a Hold" if the book is not currently available.
- Click on "Proceed to Checkout" when ready to download.
- Select Woodstock Public Library from the list of libraries.
- Use your Woodstock Public Library card number when prompted to log in. PIN= the PIN you use to login to the NIC Computer Catalog. If you do not yet have a PIN in NIC go there first and set one up (follow on-screen instructions).
- To complete the download follow the on-screen instructions. You may need to install additional software (ie Adobe Digital Editions) depending on your MP3 device or type of book that is being downloaded.
MyMediaMall/OverDrive Help:
Listing of compatible devices to use with OverDrive/MMM.
MMM / Overdrive PDF Instructions: step by step instructions for loading Overdrive books on to your mobile device or eBook reader.
Becoming Ruth's Very Helpful blog post: Easy guide to loading Overdrive books on to a Nook
OverDrive has apps available for mobile devices that allows downloading of MP3 audiobooks and Addbe edition eBooks directly to your device.
EBSCO eBooks and Audiobooks (formerly NetLibrary)
Do NOT use the old NetLibrary URL/link -- it will take you to an EBSCO login screen, but will not recognize you as a Woodstock Library customer. The EBSCO website is difficult to navigate and browse for books. The library will be switching to a new product as soon as our contract allows.
- Use this link to log-in to EBSCO. You will need to sign in using your 14-digit Woodstock Public Library card number (21567...)
- Once you are logged in click on the EBSCO link that says: "Access journal & magazine articles AND download fiction & nonfiction eBooks & Audiobooks"
- Click on the link for Audiobooks OR eBooks, depending on which you are looking to download
- There is no "browse" feature -- in the search box you can type in a genre type ("mystery" "thriller" "romance") to see books by genre, or enter a specific author or title.
- To download you will need to create a unique EBSCO login for yourself (separate from your library card number) to create this click on "Sign In" in the the upper right corner. Then click on the "Create a New Account" link (mid-screen, rightside).
- Once your sign-in is created you will be able to a) download the EBSCO Download Manager required to download books and b) checkout the books and download them.
LearningExpressLibrary (test preparation and eBooks) is an online collection of practice tests and study books for mathematics, grammar, science as well as common academic and career tests, including the GED, SAT, ACT, Civil Service, and Military.
Tumblebooks are a collection of online animated picture books for preschoolers and young readers. Tumblebooks also includes fun games and puzzles for youngsters. Stories are available in English, Spanish, and French.
Find Facts Fast
Gale Student Resource Center provides accurate answers for history, current events, country information and more.
World Book Online Reference Center includes the full World Book Encyclopedia as well as current events, student activities, & indepth information about all the states in the union.
- WorldAlmanac via FirstSearch: Includes Funk & Wagnall's New Encylopedia, the World Almanac and Book of Facts, the World Almanac of the U.S.A., the World Almanac of U.S. Politics, and the World Almanac for Kids. Login using your Woodstock library card number
- Infoplease.com: Information Please Almanac, atlases, and more
- OneLook Dictionary Search: Look up words in almost 1000 online dictionaries at the same time.
- IllinoisAtlas.com: A collection of Illinois and U.S. statistical maps.
- World Factbook: The CIA's book of country profiles.
Genealogy & Local History
Online books, photos, articles, and other information about genealogy, local history research from across the country, and Woodstock history.
HeritageQuest: Includes the Federal Census (1790 - 1930) and 25,000 full-text genealogy & local history books.
AncestryLibrary is available for in library use only. Includes 2,750+ genealogy databases including birth, marriage & death records, church records, and military records, and the U.S. Census from 1790 - 1930.
Digitized Woodstock local history books from the 19th & 20th centuries now available on the LookAtIllinois.Info website.
Historic and current Chicago Tribune from ProQuest complete coverage from 1849 - present.
- Woodstock Surname Index: A searchable index of Woodstock local history books, books are located in the library, many have been digitized and are available either on the lookatillinois.info site or using the library's HeritageQuest research database.
- Illinois Digital Archives: A portal to online exhibits and collections from libraries and museums across the state. A project of the Illinois State Library. Additional online collections are searchable through the Digital Illinois catalog.
- Illinois History Resource Page: Dozens of links, compiled by the Illinois State Historical Society.
- Illinois State Archives Databases: Search historical state & county records including military, death and marriage.
- Cyndi's List - Illinois: Directory of genealogy and history websites. Also includes links for specific Illinois localities.
www.flickr.com
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Health Information
Library resouces for information about health and medicine:
Consumer Health Complete (Ebsco) Reliable health and medical information for the general consumer.
HealthSource Academic (Ebsco) Full text health and medical journal articles.
Salem Health Full text medical articles from Magill's Medical Guide and Salem Health: Cancer Reference
Open Internet Sources for medical information:
- MedlinePlus: A medical super-site from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
- HealthFinder.gov: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' guide to health information.
- NIH SeniorHealth: Information for older adults, from the National Institutes of Health.
- Illinois Health & Wellness: Official guide to state government programs and resources.
- Health-E Illinois: Directory of healthcare providers, facilities, and services.
Job Hunting & Company Research
The library has 26 computer stations equipped with internet & Microsoft Office 2007. In addition, four computers in the reference area have the Mavis Beacon typing program for brushing up of keyboarding skills. Classes on basic computer skills, internet and Microsoft Word and Excel are offered regularly. Check for the next scheduled class on the Calendar.
Online Research Tools & Resources
Log on using your Woodstock Public Library card number.
ReferenceUSA - online research database, provided by the library, provides detailed company information. This link currently does not work using Firefox, please access using Internet Explorer.
LearningExpressLibrary - vocational & civil service practices tests & eBooks. To register for the first time. Click on "register"; for "User" enter your Woodstock Public Library Card number, create a password.
llinois WorkNet - job searching & training resources; career advisors, employment leads
Additional job hunting resources available at the McHenry County Workforce Center
500 Russel Court (near McHenry County Government Center)
Woodstock IL 60098
Phone:(815) 338-7100 ext: 203
Fax: (815) 338-7125
TTY: (800) 526-0844
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Mon - Fri
Find Magazine & Newspaper Articles
Online archives and search engines for finding articles from magazines and newspapers.
ONLINE RESEARCH DATABASES (Login using your Woodstock Public Library card number)
Ebsco MasterFileElite & Consumer Health Complete Provides full text access to magazine and journal articles. HealthSource provides full-text medical journals and articles.
Gale Student Resource Center Excellent full text resource to assist students with homework and for general knowledge about the world.
NewsBank Chicago Sun Times (1986 to present), regional Illinois newspapers, New York Times (full text from 2000 to present), and Northwest Herald (2006 to present). If you get the a User Name & Password prompt then please copy and paste this URL into your address bar and click enter http://infoweb.newsbank.com/signin/WoodstockPublic
Chicago Tribune (ProQuest) from 1849 to present, including photographs, articles, obituaries and more.
OPEN WEB RESOURCES
- BNET Research Center: (Formerly called FindArticles.com.) Index of magazine articles which doesn't require a login. Many articles are available online for free, but "premium" articles carry a pricetag. Subjects covered include: arts, autos, business, health, home and garden, news, sports, and technology.
- Google News: Search for articles from newspaper, TV news, newswires, and other reporting websites.
- Topix: Find local news published on websites and blogs.
Search Other Library Catalogs
If you can't find the item you are looking for in Woodstock's Computer Catalog you are welcome to try these other resources, or ask a librarian to locate the material. Reference librarians are experts at locating and requesting materials.*
- PrairieCat: Catalog for approximately 200 libraries in northern Illinois and eastern Iowa.
- World Cat: Use the WorldCat search box to find library materials available from across the country:
Requesting Items from Other Library Systems
If the item you are looking for is not listed in the Woodstock Catalog you can request the item using the Contact Us form; calling or emailing the library. For help finding books, DVDs, CDs and other materials contact the Reference Librarian. The library will contact you when the material is available either by automated telephone call or email (if your email is listed in your patron account, and you have "email" chosen as your contact preference).
- Every Library in ILLINET (ELI): Directory of hundreds of Illinois libraries, with links to many libraries' websites and catalogs.
- Digital Illinois: Catalog of electronic collections of documents, photographs, etc., made available online by Illinois libraries.
- Open-Access Text Archive: Thousands of public-domain books and other free books, for online viewing or downloading in plain text or scanned formats. Part of the Internet Archive site.
- Library of Congress Digital Collections: A large number of pamphlets, letters, historic documents, pictures, early films and recordings, and other items are available online.
* Rural Basic Service Cardholders are restricted from checking out materials from other libraries.