Click on the links below to visit any database from within the library.
ABCmouse
This database is restricted by license for in-library use only!
ABCmouse.com With over 9,000+ interactive books, educational games, puzzles and other learning activities. ABCmouse.com’s award-winning online curriculum is an invaluable resource for young learners (ages 2-8+). From Age of Learning, Inc.
Academic Search Premier
Academic Search Premier is a leading multidisciplinary research database. It provides acclaimed full-text journals, magazines and other valuable resources.
America’s News
A selection of the electronic version of several major national and state papers, including the Joliet Herald News, Morris Daily Herald, and the Chicago Sun-Times. The papers are searchable and most include archives for several years. Explore and stay informed on local and national topics, people and events in areas such as business, health, education, jobs and careers, political and social issues and more. Features a wide variety of credible, vetted news sources spanning the U.S. Available remotely 24/7 on any device. Great research tool for current events or other projects!
Ancestry Library Edition
This database is restricted by license for in-library use only!
This genealogy resource provides our visitors to search census, vital records, immigration records, military records, family histories and much more. Start searching billions of records and discover your family’s story.
AtoZ World Food
Explore food culture and traditional recipes from around the world. It’s a movable feast in a digital cookbook. There are recipes from 174 different countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Key Topics include: National Cuisine, Regional Cuisine, Daily Meals, Dining Etiquette, Special Occasion Foods, Tea & Coffee, National Beers, Recipes, Ingredients, Sauces, Food Quotes, Food Inventions, Herbs & Spices, and Historic Timelines.
Chicago Sun-Times
Date Range: (1/1/1986 – Current)
With a circulation of 471,000, the Chicago Sun-Times reaches a broad spectrum of diverse readers in the Chicago metropolitan area. Noted for its brisk writing style and easy-to-read tabloid format, the Sun-Times covers politics and government on the local, state and national level and casts a bright spotlight on the lively cultural, entertainment and sports scenes in the third largest city in the country. The Sun-Times prides itself on hard-hitting local coverage and interacting with readers in print, online and via blogs.
Chilton Library
Chilton Library provides online access to Chilton’s car manuals for complete automotive repair information including step-by-step repair procedures, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) maintenance schedules, wiring diagrams, and recalls and Technical Service Bulletins. Chilton Library covers the most popular vehicles of the last 30 years, plus additional coverage of specialty models.
Consumer Health Complete
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Consumer Health Complete supports the information needs of patients and fosters an overall understanding of health-related topics. This resource provides content covering all key areas of health and wellness, from mainstream medicine to the many perspectives of complementary and holistic medicine.
CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG
One of the most trusted resources for information and advice on consumer products. Content includes product reviews, shopping ratings, recommendations, videos and much more.
Explora
With Explora, you will discover reliable information on thousands of topics covering a wide range of subjects including art and music, literature, language arts, geography, history, social studies, world cultures and languages, science, technology, engineering, mathematics,health and sports.
FamilySearch
A free genealogy database. Wilmington Public Library District is a FamilySearch affiliate library. Additional affiliate library records are accessible to patrons only within our library building.
FirstSearch
A database that contains abstracts plus many full text articles on a variety of subjects. You will also find a catalog of books, periodicals and other media found in libraries around the U.S. and some foreign countries.
Free Drivers Ed Practice Tests!
In partnership with Driving-Tests.org, the Wilmington Public Library District is now offering free car, motorcycle, and CDL practice driving tests. Click here to get started!
Free Press Advocate
Date Range: (1/1/2007-Current)
The Advocate has been reporting the Wilmington news since 1870. The Coal City Courant has been covering the Coal City communities since 1901, while the Braidwood Journal has been the community paper in Braidwood since 1958. The Free Press Newspapers’ combined circulation surpassed 23,000 issues, reaching more than 42,500 readers each week. The Free Press Advocate reports Wilmington and Elwood issues, news, and views. Events and items of interest concerning Braidwood, Custer Park, Godley, and Essex appear in The Braidwood Journal. In Coal City, hometown happenings and current events are discussed in The Coal City Courant.
The Herald News Collection
Date Range: (1/1/1997 – Current)
The Herald News can trace its roots back to 1839, when a group of residents of the tiny town of Juliet (named after the daughter of one of the founders) launched the weekly Juliet Courier. A half decade later, when the city’s name was changed to Joliet, in honor of the great French explorer Louis Joliet, the paper became the Joliet Signal. In 1915, the paper was merged with the Herald and the Joliet Herald-News was born. Today, the Herald News serves nearly 40 communities in one of the fastest growing areas in the United States featuring news, opinion, crime, business, sports, and entertainment. Explore Joliet area history through local news, events and people with the Herald News Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. Also available remotely 24/7 on any device.
HeritageHub
Explore your family history with the premier collection of U.S. obituaries and death notices for in-depth genealogical research from 1704 – today. HeritageHub helps you easily identify relatives, uncover new information and potentially unknown family members. Includes deep coverage from all 50 states, hard-to-find content from the mid 1900’s, and original obituary images. Access is available 24/7.
HeritageQuest
Your resource for census data, family records and local histories. This collection assembles every extant U.S. federal census, banking and military records, genealogies, local histories, primary source materials, and genealogical and local history serials. An ongoing project (new content is added weekly), HeritageQuest Online will grow to encompass obituaries, Freedman’s Bank Records, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Index and additional materials.
Learning Express Library
Create a free account and have access to an extensive, easy to use online collection of study aides and practice exams, covering reading, writing, and math skills for elementary, middle school, high school, and college levels. It offers resources for college entrance exams (ACT, SAT, GRE, and others) as well as civil service exams, job search and workplace skill options, and much more! Create your own login and password.
Legal Information Reference Center
Legal Information Reference Center contains hundreds of publications and thousands of multi-state legal forms.
MasterFILE Premier
Contains full text for thousands of key journals, magazines and trade publications. Provides extensive coverage of topics including:
• Business • Health • Education • General Science • Multicultural Issues • And much more…
Novelist Plus
Not sure what to read next? Check out NovelistPlus, a complete readers’ resource! Over 200,000 fiction and readable nonfiction titles, plus feature content including lists of award-winning books, book discussion guides, BookTalks, 600 hand-crafted recommended reads reading lists for adults, teens and kids covering both fiction and nonfiction genres and topics, 450 searchable award lists 130,000 book cover images and 35,000 first chapter excerpts, and much more!
Novelist K-8 Plus
Kids and Young Adults want to find that next great book too! Novelist K-8 Plus covers over 9,000 fiction and nonfiction series, making it one of the most comprehensive treatments of series available. Hundreds of hand-crafted recommended reads reading lists created for teens and kids covering both fiction and nonfiction genres and topics. In addition, over 700 BookTalks, 450 searchable award lists, and Grab and Go Book Lists are available. A terrific resource for kids, parents, and teachers!
Rocket Languages
Rocket Languages is one of the world’s leading providers of online learn-a-language software packages. Setting ourselves apart from the competition by placing a strong and immediate emphasis on what we call conversational learning, our dynamic learning courses have you speaking the language in a modern, fun, and conversational manner right from the start. Learn Spanish, German, French, Korean, Hindi, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Sign Language and English!
Universal Class
With your library card you can now access online courses for Continuing Education Units from the convenience of your home or the library. To get started, click on the banner or contact the library for more information. Made possible in part by a donation from Dow Chemical.
USA Today Collection
Explore national history through local news, events and people with the USA Today Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. Also available remotely 24/7 on any device.