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Visit the Reference Desk or contact your Librarians by phone or online for help using and enjoying the Library and materials.
Your Librarians can:
- Suggest your next favorite book
- Show you how to place items on hold so that they're ready for you to pick up
- Help you access and navigate our research databases
- Answer your Tech Help questions
- Schedule a Media Lab appointment for you
- Get you a desired book or movie, even if we don't currently have it
- Source and reserve multiple copies of your upcoming title for your private book club
GENERIC QL SS The Media Lab
GENERIC QL Adult Book Groups
GENERIC AQL Genealogy & History
The Latest From the Blog
Announcing the 2023 "Lake Forest Reads" Featured Title
Lake Forest Reads, our One Book, One Community program, returns this fall! We are pleased to announce this year’s selection: The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson A haunting novel spanning several generations, The Seed Keeper follows a Dakota family’s struggle to preserve their way of life, and thei...
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Celebrate Pride Month
Happy LGBTQ+ Pride Month! Celebrated in the month of June, Pride Month honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a six-day stretch of protests in which LGBTQ+ activists fought back against a police raid of the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City. It was a major protest against anti-LGBTQ+ la...
Read MoreSummer Reading Greatest Hits!
Please see what the Lake Forest Librarians pick for summer reading: Krista: Said No One Ever by Stephanie Eding The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto Counterfeit by Kirsten Chen The Windfall ...
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Summer Reading: Buckets of Fun 2023
June 1–July 31, 2023 Summer Reading is a great way to build and reward reading habits, plus it's buckets of fun! All formats count: You can read printed books, read aloud to youngsters, and listen to audiobooks. All ages count: You can participate from birth onward. We love when the who...
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Upcoming Events
Bookmark Design Contest
Summer Reading: Buckets of Fun
Self-Guided StoryWalk® on the Library Lawn
List of upcoming sessions of MYSTERY BOOK GROUP
Indulge your inner detective and discuss titles from popular mystery series with us.
List of upcoming sessions of NONFICTION AT NIGHT
Explore critically acclaimed nonfiction books with us. Find out for yourself that sometimes fact truly is stranger than fiction.
List of upcoming sessions of AFTERNOONS WITH JUDY LEVIN
Dive deeper into fantastic books with renowned book reviewer and discussion leader Judy Levin.
List of upcoming sessions of GREAT BOOKS DISCUSSION GROUP
Read classic and contemporary essays, short stories, plays, and poems selected by the Great Books Foundation, then enjoy a stimulating discussion of ideas. For upcoming reading assignments and to join the group, contact the group leader.
List of upcoming sessions of THE POETRY GROUP
Do you like poetry, but aren't always sure what to make of it? Immerse yourself in verse during interactive presentations that inspire you to spend quality time with excellent works of poetry.
List of upcoming sessions of GREAT DECISIONS DISCUSSION GROUP
Join us to discuss and debate foreign policy issues and complete a national opinion ballot to communicate our views to Congress and the White House. Discussion led by the League of Women Voters of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Area. For upcoming reading assignments and to join the group, contact the group leader.
GO TO ANCESTRY for in-library use only.
What you can do with it
Search family histories using census, marriage, birth, death, and military records from North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and more. International records continue to grow.
User Guide
GO TO CITY LASERFICHE.
What you can do with it
Access thousands of pages of historical City of Lake Forest public documents including agendas, minutes, ordinances, and resolutions.
How to access
| ⬤ | Works in the browser on iOS, Android, smartphones, tablets |
| ⬤ | Works in computer browser |
eBooks · eAudiobooks
GO TO CLOUDLIBRARY.
What you can do with it
Borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks, especially new and recently published titles.
User Guide
Get started with the cloudLibrary app
Amount
5 checkouts at a time
Loan Period
2 weeks
How to access
| ⬤ | App available, search for "cloudlibrary" in your app store |
| ⬤ | Works on iOS, Android, smartphones, tablets, Kindle Fire, Nook ... just install the app |
| ⬤ | Works in computer browser |
| ⬤ | No, does not work on Kindle eInk reader |
GO TO CONSUMER REPORTS.
What you can do with it
View expert ratings, articles, and buying guides from Consumer Reports magazine, which includes evaluations of hundreds of products from appliances to cars to electronics.
User Guide
GO TO CREATIVEBUG.
What you can do with it
Choose from more than 1,000 award-winning art and craft video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists.
User Guide
Get started with the Creativebug app
How to access
| ⬤ | App available, search for "creativebug" in your app store |
| ⬤ | Works on iOS, Android, smartphones, tablets ... just install the app |
| ⬤ | Works in computer browser |
Music
GO TO FREEGAL.
What you can do with it
Stream and download Sony Music songs to keep forever.
User Guide
Get started with the Freegal app
Amount
Unlimited streaming
3 downloads per week
How to access
| ⬤ | App available, search for "freegal" in your app store |
| ⬤ | Works on iOS, Android, smartphones, tablets ... just install the app |
| ⬤ | Works in computer browser |
Movies & TV · eBooks · eAudiobooks · eComics · Music
GO TO HOOPLA.
What you can do with it
Borrow and stream movies, music, eBooks, eAudiobooks, comics, and TV shows.
Some special collections
- Enable Kids Mode to display only kid-appropriate content
- Hallmark movies
- Acorn TV
- The Great Courses eAudiobooks
User Guide
Get started with the Hoopla app
Amount
- 7 Instant Borrows per month (total for Hoopla plus Hoopla Kids Mode)
- Borrow more from special collections using a BingePass and Bonus Borrows.
Loan Period
3 weeks for eBooks, eAudiobooks, and Comics
3 days for Movies and TV shows
1 week for Music
How to access
| ⬤ | App available, search for "hoopla" in your app store |
| ⬤ | Works on iOS, Android, smartphones, tablets ... just install the app |
| ⬤ | Works in computer browser |
| ⬤ | Works with Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku |
| ⬤ | No, does not work on Kindle eInk reader |
Movies & Documentaries
GO TO KANOPY.
What you can do with it
Watch a wide range of on-demand streaming videos.
Some special collections
- Enable Kids Mode to display only kid-appropriate
- The Criterion Collection
- Documentaries
- Foreign films
- Classic cinema
- The Great Courses videos
User Guide
Get started with the Kanopy app
Amount
10 per month (total for Kanopy plus Kanopy Kids)
How to access
| ⬤ | App available, search for "kanopy" in your app store |
| ⬤ | Works on iOS, Android, smartphones, tablets ... just install the app |
| ⬤ | Works in computer browser |
| ⬤ | Works with Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku |
eBooks · eAudiobooks · eMagazines · eComics · Videos
GO TO LIBBY / Digital Library of IL.
You can either use the Libby app or
sign in to your LIBBY account on the Digital Library of Illinois page
What you can do with it
Borrow from a vast collection of eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines.
User Guides
Get started with the Libby app
How to Download eBooks to a Kindle
Amount
- 10 eBook/eAudiobook checkouts at a time
- No limit on eMagazines
Loan Period
7, 14, or 21 days (you choose in Settings or when checking out an item)
How to access
| ⬤ | App available, search for "libby" in your app store |
| ⬤ | Works on iOS, Android, smartphones, tablets, Kindle Fire, Nook ... just install the app |
| ⬤ | Works on Kindle eInk readers ... just choose Kindle format when checking out an item |
| ⬤ | Read or listen to titles on a computer with an internet browser by visiting the Digital Library of Illinois |
GO TO MORNINGSTAR for in-library use.
GO TO MORNINGSTAR for use outside Lake Forest Library. You will be prompted to provide the first 5 digits of your library card.
What you can do with it
Analyze investments with information on mutual funds, stocks, ETFs, and screening tools.
User Guide
Access the digital edition
The first time you access a NYT digital edition product, you will be prompted to create a free account. Use your account to log in to NYT Unlimited, Cooking, Games, and The Athletic.
GO TO THE NEW YORK TIMES UNLIMITED for in-library use. As long as you don't log out, you can reconnect seamlessly as many times as you wish.
GO TO THE NEW YORK TIMES UNLIMITED for use outside Lake Forest Library. Using this offsite link gives you 72 hours of access. Once your session has expired, return to the Lake Forest Library website and select the offsite link again to start a new 72-hour session.
What you can do with it
Enjoy full subscriber-level access to NYTimes.com. Read articles as originally published from 1851 to the present, as well as access TimesMachine, an interactive digital reproduction of NYT as it appeared in print from 1851 to 2002. Customize your experience by saving and sharing articles, exploring email newsletters, following favorite topics, and downloading apps. Mandarin and Spanish editions available.
Access the digital edition
The first time you access a NYT digital edition product, you will be prompted to create a free account. Use your account to log in to NYT Unlimited, Cooking, Games, and The Athletic.
GO TO THE NEW YORK TIMES GAMES. Using this link gives you 24 hours of access. Once your session has expired, you can return to the Lake Forest Library website and select this link again to start a new 24-hour session.
What you can do with it
Enjoy all your favorite NYT games and puzzles for all ages, including the Crossword, Ken Ken, Spelling Bee, Sudoku, Tiles, Vertex, and more.
Access the digital edition
The first time you access a NYT digital edition product, you will be prompted to create a free account. Use your account to log in to NYT Unlimited, Cooking, Games, and The Athletic.
GO TO NEW YORK TIMES COOKING. Using this link gives you 24 hours of access. Once your session has expired, return to the Lake Forest Library website and select this link again to start a new 24-hour session.
What you can do with it
Become a better, more competent cook with help from this inspirational cooking guide, innovative and interactive kitchen tool, and diverse recipe collection.
Access the digital edition
The first time you access a NYT digital edition product, you will be prompted to create a free account. Use your account to log in to NYT Unlimited, Cooking, Games, and The Athletic.
GO TO THE ATHLETIC. Using this link gives you 24 hours of access. Once your session has expired, return to the Lake Forest Library website and select this link again to start a new 24-hour session.
What you can do with it
Enjoy in-depth sports coverage of your favorite teams and leagues, including breaking news, live commentary, exclusive interviews, podcasts, and more.
GO TO NICHE ACADEMY.
WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT
Learn how to use popular digital resources and applications including Hoopla, Libby (OverDrive), Consumer Reports, NoveList, and more.
GO TO PRESSREADER.
GO TO PRESSREADER for use outside the Lake Forest Library.
What you can do with it
Enjoy free full text, full color online access to popular newspapers and magazines from around the world! Create an account for additional features including saved searches and favorite publications.
GO TO S&P NET ADVANTAGE for in-library use.
GO TO S&P NET ADVANTAGE for use outside Lake Forest Library.
What you can do with it
Find business and investment information, including a daily stock price record and printable industry surveys.
GO TO VALUE LINE.
What you can do with it
Explore investment research information including online versions of the Value Line Investment surveys, the mutual fund survey, and more.
User Guide
GO TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.
What you can do with it
Search and read articles from 1984 to present (1984–2006 excluding images).
User Guide