Online Articles & Databases, Subject Listing

The Algonquin Area Public Library District subscribes to a collection of special online databases containing a wealth of information unavailable elsewhere on the web. This service is free 24/7 for Algonquin Area Library card holders only!

To connect from home, have your Algonquin library card barcode number ready to login. If you encounter problems with home access, please follow our tips for remote access users.

Search many of these databases simultaneously with WebFeat!

You can also access the A-Z Listing of Databases.

Choose Subject Category

Newspaper Articles

Search Chicagoland and other newspapers including obituaries.

Chicago Area Newspapers
Search the Chicago Tribune (1985-), the Chicago Sun-Times (1986-), the Northwest Herald (2006-), the Daily Herald (1995-), and the Algonquin Countryside (1995-)! Includes articles, columns, and obituaries.
Chicago Tribune Historical Archive
Search full-image articles, classifieds, marriage notices, and much more from 1849-1985! Great for all kinds of research needs.
Electric Library
Includes national newspapers as well as magazine and broadcast sources.
Algonquin Area Obituary Index
Indexes obituaries appearing in the Northwest Herald and the Algonquin Countryside from January 1, 2005 - Present. Selected obituaries Elgin Courier News are also included. Select indexing of the Cardunal Free Press (Apr 1966- Dec 1985) is in progress. Includes national newspapers as well as magazine and broadcast sources.

New York Times Archive
Search articles, birth announcements, and more, back to 1851! Use the search window at the top of the initial page.

Magazine Articles

Includes hundreds of popular magazines and academic journals.

Electric Library
A collection of full text articles from magazines, newspapers, and broadcast sources. To search academic journals, check the "peer reviewed" option.
General Reference Center Gold
Access hundreds of full text periodicals, newspapers, and major reference books . To search academic journals, check the "refereed publications" option.
First Search
A collection of periodical databases including ERIC, Article First, Wilson Select Full-Text, ABI INFORM, and many more. Search up to 3 selected databases at the same time!

Homework/Research

Great for biographies, social issues, current controversies, news.

Biography Resource Center
This database combines award-winning biographies from respected Gale Group sources. Biography Resource Center also includes full-text articles from hundreds of periodicals.
Opposing Viewpoints Research Center
A complete one-stop source for information on social issues. Access viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.
Literature Resource Center
Literary criticism and analysis, author biographies, and much more!
Encyclopedia Britannica Reference Center
Search the full text of the famous encyclopedia, plus many other valuable reference sources. Includes extensive audiovisual content, atlases, and international news. Great for any research project!
Worldbook Reference Center
Complete text with images from the famous encyclopedia, along with information from many other sources. Includes a Spanish language encyclopedia. Great for homework help!
Gale Virtual Reference Library
A database of encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. Includes Grzimek's Animals Guide, American Decades, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Business Plans, and more!
Grolier Online Reference Center
Great for homework! Choose from Lands and Peoples, or Amazing Animals!
Electric Library
A collection of full text articles from magazines, newspapers, and broadcast sources.
First Search
A collection of databases including Medline, ERIC, Article First, Wilson Select Full-Text, and many more.
General Reference Center Gold
A one-stop source for information focusing on business, current events, popular culture, sports and entertainment. Access hundreds of full text periodicals, newspapers, and major reference books.
Access NewspaperARCHIVE
Contains tens of millions of searchable newspaper pages, dating as far back as the 1700s, from the USA and around the world!
Chicago Tribune Historical Archive
Search full-image articles, classifieds, marriage notices, and much more from 1849-1985! Great for all kinds of research needs.

Business/Financial

Company reports, stocks, mutual funds, phone directories.

Business and Company Resource Center
Business and Company Resource Center is a fully integrated resource bringing together company profiles, brand information, rankings, investment reports, company histories, chronologies and periodicals.
Illinois Public Records
Find new homeowners and businesses, foreclosures and sales, bankruptcies.
Reference USA
A nationwide business and residential white pages directory. Compile listings by zip code, yellow page headings, business size, etc
ValueLine Research Center
Comprehensive stocks and mutual funds information for investors.
Gale Virtual Reference Library
A database of encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. Includes Grzimek's Animals Guide, American Decades, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Business Plans, and more!

Genealogy

Search census and other vital records, passenger lists.

Ancestry: Library Edition
With over 2 billion records in over 3,000 databases, Ancestry Library is a comprehensive online source of information for genealogical and local history research.
HeritageQuest Online
Indexed, full-image census records from 1790-1930 make genealogy research easier than ever before!
Chicago Tribune Historical Archive
Search full-image articles, classifieds, marriage notices, and much more from 1849-1985! Great for all kinds of research needs.
New York Times Archive
Search articles, birth announcements, and more, back to 1851! Use the search window at the top of the initial page.
Access NewspaperARCHIVE
Contains tens of millions of searchable newspaper pages, dating as far back as the 1700s, from the USA and around the world!
Chicago Area Newspapers
Search the Chicago Tribune (1985-), the Chicago Sun-Times (1986-), the Daily Herald (1995-), and the Algonquin Countryside (1995-)! Includes articles, columns, obituaries, death notices.
Algonquin Area Obituary Index
Indexes obituaries appearing in the Northwest Herald and the Algonquin Countryside from January 1, 2005 - Present. Selected obituaries Elgin Courier News are also included. Select indexing of the Cardunal Free Press (Apr 1966- Dec 1985) is in progress.
Digital Past
This collection features books and pamphlets, photographs, and maps related to the history of Algonquin, Lake in the Hills and McHenry County. Each book includes a text transcription and is fully searchable by keyword. All featured titles are held in the possession of the Algonquin Area Public Library.

Health/Medical

Information on diseases, treatments, prescription drugs.

Gale Virtual Reference Library
Includes the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine and other specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.
MedlinePLUS
A comprehensive, free source for consumer health and medical information.
RevolutionHealth.com
Another free source for consumer health and medical information.
PDR Online
Full text of the current Physicians Desk Reference for prescription drugs.
Health@National Library of Medicine
Free access to Medline/PubMed, Clinical Trials, Household Products Database, HIV/AIDS and Cancer info, Toxic Substances, and much more.
ReleMed
Search Medline articles ranked by relevance and recency.
Healthline
A comprehensive, free source for consumer health and medical information.
General Reference Center Gold
Access full text articles from many medical journals and publications.

Special Interests

Auto repair guides, national phone listings, consumer information, etc.

Auto Repair Reference Center
Access to a wealth of repair information, including wiring diagrams, from 1954 models to the present!
Consumer Reports Online
Search current and back issues. Ask at Reference Desk for login information.
Illinois Public Records
Find new homeowners and businesses, foreclosures and sales, bankruptcies.
LearningExpressLibrary
Take online courses in programs like Excel, Word, Access, and much more!
NoveList Adult Readers Advisor
Find adult and youth fiction by matching similar authors, titles, and subjects. Includes plot summaries.
Reference USA
A nationwide business and residential white pages directory. Compile listings by zip code, yellow page headings, business size, etc.
Gale Virtual Reference Library
A database of encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. Includes Grzimek's Animals Guide, American Decades, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Business Plans, and more.