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Acorn Acorn Public Library Public Library District
  • Home
  • Events
    • Newsletter
    • Calendar
    • Events for Adults
    • Events for Kids
    • Summer Reading Program 2025
  • Books & Media
    • New & Upcoming
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    • Staff Favorites
    • Reader Resources
    • hoopla
    • BiblioBoard
  • Services
    • Library Cards & Borrowing
    • Public Computers & Internet Access
    • Print, Copy, Fax, Scan
    • Meeting & Study Rooms
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  • Research
    • Research & Learning Tools
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    • Older Adults
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  • Kids
    • New & Recommended
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    • Events for Kids
  • About
    • Hours & Location
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    • Friends of the Library
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    • Our Community
    • Contact Us
    • Suggest a Program
    • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
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Research & Learning Tools

Complete List A-Z

A

Academic Search Elite

Designed for academic institutions. Comprehensive, multi-disciplinary resource of scholarly research. Coverage on a wide range of topics. Includes peer-reviewed full text resources for subjects such as adult education, higher education, public health, and more.

AGRICOLA

From the National Agricultural Library. Contains citations about all aspects of agriculture and related fields. Includes: journal articles, monographs, proceedings, theses, patents, translations, audiovisual materials, computer software, and technical reports.

Alt HealthWatch

Provides information on complementary, holistic, and integrated approaches to healthcare and wellness. Sources include journals (some peer-reviewed) and reports.

Ancestry Library Edition (in-house use only)

Ancestry Library Edition, distributed exclusively by ProQuest and powered by Ancestry.com, delivers billions of records in census data, vital records, directories, photos, and more, making it an ideal resource for genealogical research. (Ancestry Library Edition is for in-house use only.)

Auto Repair Source

Repair information and schedules, diagrams, parts and labor estimates, service alerts, and recalls. Covers thousands of domestic and imported vehicles.

B

Biography Reference Source

More than 390,000 biographies. Includes complete full text run of Biography Today and Biography Magazine as well as thousands of narrative biographies.

Book Collection: Nonfiction

Designed for public libraries, thousands of books cover core subject areas as well as information on careers, health, sports, adventure, technology, life skills and more.

Boundless (eRead Illinois)

Check out popular e-books and audiobooks on Boundless! You can have 5 items and 5 holds checked out at once. Wait times for in-demand content are short! Download the Boundless app on your smartphone or tablet!

Business Source Elite

This database provides full-text coverage of top business, management and economics journals and periodicals. These valuable publications cover topics such as accounting, banking, finance, international business, marketing, sales and more.

E

ERIC: Education Resources and Information Center

Index of journal articles, books, theses, curriculum guides, conference papers, standards, and guidelines on a wide range of education topics. Sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education.

Ethnic Diversity Source

This full-text database is a dedicated resource covering the culture, traditions, social treatment and lived experiences of different ethnic groups in America.

H

Health Source: Consumer Edition

Subjects include fitness, nutrition, diabetes, aging, women’s health, children’s health, and more. Information comes from magazines, books, Clinical Reference System reports, and pamphlets.

Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition

Provides researchers, allied health professionals, nurses, and medical educators access to scholarly journals on many medical disciplines. Provides indexing, abstracts, and full text for hundreds of nursing and allied health journals, many of which are peer reviewed.

History Resource Center

Covering topics in U.S. and world history from the earliest civilizations through the 21st century, this database contains full-text journals, magazines, reference books and thousands of primary source documents.

Hiveclass

Hiveclass is an e-learning platform for sports, physical activity, and mind+body wellness. Explore countless videos in English and Spanish on pickleball, fitness, dance, soccer, yoga,
mindfulness, & more by logging in with your library card number!

Hobbies and Crafts Source

Subject areas include arts & crafts; games & electronics; models; needlework; outdoors & nature; and scrapbooking & paper craft.

Home Improvement Source

Includes maintenance, remodeling, electrical work, plumbing, wood projects, outdoor improvements, decorating, home & garden, etc. Includes more than 130 reference books.

Hoopla

Hoopla digital media service allows you to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics, and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone. With no wait time, materials can be streamed immediately or downloaded to your device for offline viewing later!

L

LearningExpress

Supports those looking to improve core academic skills, pass a high school equivalency test, prepare for college, explore careers, join the military, study for occupational certification tests, become a U.S. citizen and much more. Contains practice tests, interactive tutorials, e-books, articles, and flashcards.

Legal Information Source

Thousands of legal forms by topic including Bankruptcy, Divorce, Name Changes, Wills & Estate Planning and more. Most of the full text legal reference books provided through NOLO.

Legal Source

A scholarly resource of current issues, studies, and trends of the legal world. For attorneys, educators, businesspeople, law librarians, students, and paralegals.

LGBTQ+ Source

LGBTQ+ Source is the definitive database for LGBTQ+ studies. It provides scholarly and popular LGBTQ+ publications in full text, plus historically important primary sources, including monographs, magazines, newspapers, and videos. It also includes a specialized LGBTQ+ thesaurus containing thousands of terms.

Libby

Did you know your local library has thousands of eBooks and audiobooks? You can borrow them, instantly, for free, using just the device in your hand. Download the Libby (Overdrive) app on your smartphone or tablet!

Library and Information Science Source

Journals and periodicals that help librarians and researchers keep pace with the latest trends in the field.

Literary Reference Source

Full-text literary database covering all genres and time periods. It includes thousands of synopses, critical essays, book reviews, literary journals, and author biographies, plus full-text classic novels, short stories, and poems.

M

MAS Complete

Designed for high school libraries and offers coverage of popular high school magazines and reference books. Wide range of subjects offered including art, history, sports, and music. Over 1,000,000 photos, maps, and flags. Full text magazines include Discover, US News & World Report, Scientific American, and more.

MasterFILE Complete

Broad collection of popular full-text magazines and reference books. Magazines include People, Better Homes and Gardens, TIME, and Newsweek. Covers subjects including business, health, education, fitness, sports and leisure, personal finance, general science, multicultural issues, DIY, and fashion. Also includes photos, maps, and flags.

Middle Search Plus

Magazines and reference books for middle school students. Includes thousands of biographies and primary source documents. Subjects include history, current events, science, sports, and biographies. Also includes photos, maps, and flags.

N

Newspaper Source Plus

Includes millions of articles from newspapers, newswires, and news magazines. Offers television and radio transcripts and ongoing daily updates from popular news sources. Newspapers include St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more.

Novelist

Contains information on over 260,000 fiction  titles. Features lists of award-winning books, book discussion guides, Read-a-Like recommendations, and complete series information. Also includes reader ratings and reviews. Create your own reading wish list.

Novelist K-8

Find just the right book by subject, age, awards won, books made into movies, and much more. Read reviews and learn about the author. Create your own reading wish list. Includes tools for teachers such as Lexile levels and Common Core standards.

P

Points of View Reference Source

Presents multiple sides of over 500 issues. Helps students assess and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues, and develop analytical thinking skills.

Primary Search

For elementary school libraries. Content from children’s magazines, easy-to-read encyclopedia entries, and images. Students can learn about animals, musicians, fitness, space exploration, and much more.

Professional Development Collection

Specialized information for librarians, teachers, and education researchers.

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

Covers a broad range of subjects in the fields of psychology, behavioral sciences, and related disciplines. For psychologists, counselors, researchers, and students.

R

Regional Business News

Regional business publications for the United States and Canadian provinces from 1990. Includes newspapers, radio and television news transcripts, trade publications, magazines, and newswires.

Religion & Philosophy Collection

Hundreds of full-text journals and magazines covering many religious and philosophical topics, including world religions, religious history, political philosophy, and philosophy of language.

S

Science Reference Source

Provides full text for hundreds of science magazines, journals, reference books and high-quality videos. The database also contains science experiments, curriculum-aligned lesson plans, and a vast image collection.

Small Business Reference Source

Covers all aspects of starting and operating a business. Includes information on accounting, human resources, management, marketing, tax, and more. State-specific information included.

Small Engine Repair Reference Source

Repair guides for small engines and routine maintenance (tune-ups, brake service, etc.). Also includes guides on extensive repairs such as engine and transmission disassembly. Coverage includes lawn mowers, motorcycles, tractors, and snowmobiles. Information on more than 25 years of engine models, with new and updated content added regularly.

W

WorldCat

WorldCat searches all libraries across the United States. Use it to discover print, audiovisual, and electronic resources beyond those available locally. Please Contact Us to request materials found here.

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