Databases
Most databases are available to use outside the Library when you log in using your Lake Forest Library card number. All databases are available to anyone using the Library's public computers.
Go to AMERICAS NEWS MAGAZINES
http://infoweb.newsbank.com/signin/LakeForestPublic
What you can do with it
Read articles from 27 popular magazines, including National Review, The New Yorker, and Popular Science.
In Library use only: Go to ANCESTRY
https://ancestrylibrary.proquest.com
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 AtoZdatabases
https://www.atozdatabases.com
What you can do with it
Research sales leads, mailing lists, market research, employment opportunities, background searches, finding friends and relatives, and a whole lot of other possibilities.
Go to BEANSTACK
https://www.lakeforestlibrary.org/beanstack
What you can do with it
Log your reading, complete activities, and win prizes while participating in Library programs including Summer Reading, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, and more!
How to access
| ⬤ | App available, search for "beanstack" in your app store |
| ⬤ | Works on iOS, Android, smartphones, tablets ... just install the app |
| ⬤ | Works in computer browser |
Go to BIBLIOBOARD
https://www.lakeforestlibrary.org/biblioboard/" then choose from "BiblioBoard Library of Illinois," "biblioboard open access," or "RAILS for Schools."
What you can do with it
Download FREE eBooks and eAudiobooks, featuring community-created content, local self-published books, and thousands of other always-available titles. No account needed.
User Guide
Amount
Unlimited with no return period
How to access
| ⬤ | App available, search for "biblioboard" in your app store |
| ⬤ | Works on iOS, Android, smartphones, tablets ... just install the app |
| ⬤ | Works in computer browser |
What you can do with it
Search more than 1,000 business and economics journals, and read profiles for the world's 10,000 largest companies.
Go to CHICAGO TRIBUNE
http://search.proquest.com/chicagotribune/news/fromBasicHomePage?accountid=257
What you can do with it
Explore full text articles (excluding images) from 1985 to the present. For historical articles from 1849–1989, visit the the Historical Chicago Tribune database.
What you can do with it
Explore articles and images, obituaries, and marriage and birth announcements from 1849–1989.
Go to CITY LASERFICHE
https://laserfiche.cityoflakeforest.com/WebLink/?dbid=0&repo=Lake-Forest
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 |
Go to CLOUDLIBRARY
https://ebook.yourcloudlibrary.com/library/lakeforestlibrary/Featured
What you can do with it
Borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks, especially new and recently published titles.
User Guide
Getting 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 |
What you can do with it
View expert ratings from Consumer Reports magazine, which includes evaluations of hundreds of products from appliances to cars to electronics.
User Guide
Consumer ratings, comments, and advice on repair services, finance, home care, and more in the greater Chicago area.
In the Library: click here.
From Anywhere: click here.
Go to CREATIVEBUG
https://www.creativebug.com/lib/lakeforestlibrary
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
Getting 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 |
What you can do with it
Explore cultural information including videos, recipes, customs, and lifestyles from other countries in the world and states in the U.S.
Go to DIGITAL PUBLIC LIBRARY OF AMERICA
https://dp.la
What you can do with it
Explore the riches held within America’s libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage institutions, including photographs, museum objects, government documents, and so much more!
Allows for simultaneous searching of any combination of EBSCO databases including: BIR Entertainment, Book Index with Reviews, Business Source Elite, Health Source (Academic and Consumer editions), Masterfile Premier, Regional Business News, Fiction Core Collection, and AHFS Consumer Medication Information.
Online Scholarly journal articles from 1995 to present.
Popular and scholarly full text articles from 13 different databases including ERIC and MedLine. Search simultaneously or individually.
Go to FREEGAL
https://lakeforestlibrary.freegalmusic.com/home
What you can do with it
Download Sony Music songs to keep forever.
User Guide
Getting Started with the Freegal app
Amount
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 |
Go to THE GREAT COURSES ON HOOPLA
https://www.hoopladigital.com/collection/6051
What you can do with it
The Great Courses are engaging, immersive learning experiences. These college-level courses are presented by exceptional professors chosen for their ability to teach. Hoopla has dozens of TGC eAudiobooks.
User Guide
Getting Started with the Hoopla app
Amount
7 per month (total for Hoopla plus Hoopla Kids Mode)
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 |
What you can do with it
The Great Courses are engaging, immersive learning experiences. These college-level courses are presented by exceptional professors chosen for their ability to teach. Kanopy has dozens of TGC videos.
User Guide
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 |
Go to HEALTH SOURCE: CONSUMER EDITION
Search consumer health magazines, pamphlets, reference books, and reports.
Go to HEALTH SOURCE: NURSING/ACADEMIC EDITION
Search over 500 full text scholarly medical journals.
Genealogical database searching census, military, immigration records and more.
Go to HOOPLA
https://www.hoopladigital.com
What you can do with it
Borrow and stream movies, music, eBooks, eAudiobooks, comics, and TV shows.
User Guide
Getting Started with the Hoopla app
Amount
- 7 Instant Borrows per month (total for Hoopla plus Hoopla Kids Mode)
- Use a single borrow to get a BingePass which gives you unlimited access to select streaming content for 7 days (such as eMagazines, The Great Courses, or Curiosity Stream documentaries): hoopladigital.com/browse/binge
- Bonus Borrows are a curated collection of popular titles available for unlimited borrowing without using up your monthly borrow limits
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 |
Go to HOOPLA then click KIDS
https://www.hoopladigital.com
What you can do with it
Enable Kids Mode to only show kid-appropriate content in your browse and search results.
User Guide
Getting Started with the Hoopla app
Amount
7 per month (total for Hoopla plus Hoopla Kids Mode)
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 |
What you can do with it
Read historical articles and view photographs related to Lake Forest.
User Guide
Inkie.org is a suite of free resources that supports local authors with online creation and publishing tools and allows readers to access locally-produced content.
For authors:
- Create an eBook from your manuscript
- Share your eBook through libraries
- Enter your work in the Inkie annual contest
For readers:
Free eBooks on ...
Go to INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY
Daily stock market and business news, quotes, mutual fund performance and market analysis.
Go to KANOPY
https://lakeforestlibrary.kanopy.com
What you can do with it
Watch a wide range of on-demand streaming videos including selections from the Criterion Collection, foreign films, classic cinema, documentaries, and more.
User Guide
Getting 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 |
Go to KANOPY then click GO TO KANOPY KIDS
https://lakeforestlibrary.kanopy.com
What you can do with it
Free streaming videos ... Just for kids! Kanopy Kids uses Common Sense Media ratings, making it easy for you to decide what's best for your family.
User Guide
Getting 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 |
Searchable Lake Forester from 1995 to present. See historical editions in the Historical Lake Forester database.
Go to HISTORICAL LAKE FORESTER
http://box2.nmtvault.com/LakeForest/jsp/RcWebBrowse.jsp
What you can do with it
Search and read issues of the Lake Forester from 1899–1945.
User Guide
Go to LIBBY / OVERDRIVE / DLIL
https://nsls.overdrive.com/nsls-lakeforest/content
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
Getting 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" or "overdrive" 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: dlil.info or lakeforestlibrary.org/dlil |
Download FREE audiobooks read by volunteers from around the world.
USER GUIDE
AMOUNT
Unlimited
HOW TO ACCESS
- Download audio files and listen on your Computer or Mobile device
- Add audio files to iTunes
IS THERE AN APP?
Yes, search for "librivox" in your app store
Go to LINKEDIN LEARNING
https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/go/lakeforestlibrary
What you can do with it
Be a lifelong learner with free tutorials from the industry leader in technology training. Enhance and expand your business, technology, and creative skills. (Formerly Lynda.com.)
User Guide
Getting Started with the LinkedIn Learning app
How to access
| ⬤ | App available, search for "linkedin learning" in your app store |
| ⬤ | Works on iOS, Android, smartphones, tablets ... just install the app |
| ⬤ | Works in computer browser |
Go to LOS ANGELES TIMES
https://www.proquest.com/latimes?accountid=257
What you can do with it
Explore full text articles (excluding images) from 1985 to the present.
Go to MANGO LANGUAGES
https://connect.mangolanguages.com/lake-forest/start
What you can do with it
Learn a wide variety of languages more effectively through real-life situations and actual conversation.
User Guide
Getting Started with the Mango app
How to access
| ⬤ | App available, search for "mango languages" in your app store |
| ⬤ | Works on iOS, Android, smartphones, tablets ... just install the app |
| ⬤ | Works in computer browser |
Full text and abstracts of magazine and journal articles, as well as reference books and primary source documents.
Information on health topics, drugs, and supplements from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
Go to Remote MORNINGSTAR (Enter the first 5 digits of your library card only)
Investment analysis tool including information on mutual funds, stocks, ETFs and screening tools.
Language learning for children. Courses available in English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish.
Full text articles (excluding images) from 1980–present. Search historical articles from 1851–2009 in the Historical New York Times database.
What you can do with it
Search and read New York Times articles (including images) from 1851–2009, including obituaries and marriage and birth announcements.
User Guide
Company and investment information, legal cases, and news stories from hundreds of foreign and domestic sources. Legal Case information available only in the Library.
In the Library: Click here
Outside the Library: Click here
Sign up for email reading lists in 20 different subjects and genres. Find your next read.
What you can do with it
Find fiction and nonfiction recommendations based on your interests and preferences.
User Guide
Access millions of records from over 2,000 organizations, including books, articles, audio, video, and images.
Go to PROJECT GUTENBERG
gutenberg.org
Download FREE eBooks including the world's great literature, especially older works for which copyright has expired.
USER GUIDE
Project Gutenberg mobile device how-to
AMOUNT
Unlimited
HOW TO ACCESS
- Read in your Computer or Mobile browser
- Download EPUB or MOBI files for your mobile device
IS THERE AN APP?
Yes, search for "project gutenberg" in your app store
Search public record information such as bankruptcies, foreclosures and auctions, and real estate transactions in Lake and Chicago area counties.
Access from anywhere (will prompt for your Lake Forest Library card number)
Search business journals, newspapers, and news-wires across the U.S.
Go to SORKINS
http://sorkins.com/HPLakeFor.asp
What you can do with it
Search for company and contact info for businesses and not-for-profit organizations in the Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City metropolitan areas.
User Guide
- You first need to register your Lake Forest Library card. Go to Sorkins and click "Login."
- A login popup will appear. Cick "Register Here!"
- Register with your name and library card.
- You will then be redirected to the login page.
- Log in with your library card number and you are ready to search!
- Once you have registered your library card number, you never have to do it again.
Find business and investment information, including a daily stock price record and printable industry surveys.
In the Library: click here.
For use outside of the Library: click here
Storyline Online streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books. It is available 24 hours a day for children, parents, caregivers and educators worldwide. Each book includes supplemental curriculum developed by a credentialed elementary educator, aiming to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills for English-language learners.
Go to THE WASHINGTON POST
https://www.proquest.com/washingtonpost?accountid=257
What you can do with it
Explore full text articles (excluding images) from 1987 to the present.
TumbleBooks are easy to use eBooks for grades K–6. Read as many books you want, when you want, and on any device with no checkouts, holds, or bulky downloads.
Live one-on-one online tutor help for K–12 students in math, science, English, social studies and writing available daily from 2:00–11:00 pm. Adults can receive one-on-one career help, GED prep, and citizenship test prep.
Explore investment research information including online versions of the Value Line Investment surveys, the mutual fund survey, and more.
What you can do with it
Search and read articles from 1984 to present (1984–2006 excluding images).
User Guide
Access financial strength ratings for banks, credit unions, and insurance. Get investment ratings for stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs. Also included is the Customized Medicare Supplement Insurance Buyer's Guide.
Kids, Student, Advanced, Timelines and Discover versions of World Book Encyclopedias. French and Spanish versions available.