Learn & Research
The Grayslake Area Public Library District provides access to special subscription databases to our patrons. This service is free 24/7 for Grayslake Area Library cardholders only.
To connect from home, have your Grayslake library card barcode number ready to log in.
View tutorials on most of our databases to learn more about them, and how to use them.
Consumer Reports — Provides unbiased product reviews that help you make an informed purchase. Available on the library’s WiFi for all patrons. Available to Grayslake cardholders remotely.
AtoZdatabases — Search this online database to find millions of consumer and business records, as well as over 7 million high-paying jobs!
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Business Source Premier — Find financial data, industry market reports, SWOT analyses, and company profiles.
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Consumer Reports — Provides unbiased product reviews that help you make an informed purchase. Available on the library’s WiFi for all patrons. Available to Grayslake cardholders remotely.
Gale Business: Plan Builder — Step-by-step online planning tool for starting, managing, and optimizing a business or nonprofit. The intuitive dashboard walks users through five areas of exploration to develop a business plan focused on long-term success.
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Legal Information Reference Center — Navigate legal matters of all kinds with reliable “how-to” information and thousands of federal, multi-state, and state-specific legal forms. It includes the full text and complete forms from the latest, up-to-date editions of Nolo Press books, written by lawyers for consumers and small businesses.
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LinkedIn Learning — Watch thousands of step-by-step online video tutorials on software, apps, media, marketing, business, and technology.
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MorningStar — Find information on stocks and mutual funds.
To get Morningstar from home click here.
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Peterson’s Test and Career Prep — Testing assistance powered by Peterson's for standardized AP/college prep tests, career certification, citizenship tests, and other exams. Research college/graduate schools and tuition assistance. Get advice on careers, resumes, cover letters, interviewing, and networking. Brush up on basic reading, writing, and math skills.
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Small Business Reference Center — Exclusive full text for many top consumer small business reference books, as well as tools to address many small business topics. It includes business videos, a help and advice section, and details on how to create business plans.
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Udemy: Gale Presents — An online learning platform for adults who want to improve work-related skills or further develop a personal interest.
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Auto Repair Source — Powered by the automotive experts at MOTOR, contains step-by-step repair information, diagrams, maintenance schedules, parts and labor estimates, service bulletins and recall notices for all makes and models, with some model years going back to the 1970s.
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Creativebug — Creativebug offers online video arts and crafts workshops and techniques. Learn how to paint, knit, crochet, sew, screenprint, and more.
Home Improvement Reference Center — Your source for “how-to” information on a variety of do-it-yourself home improvement and repair projects.
Small Engine Repair Reference Center — Offers assistance in providing routine maintenance (tune-ups, brake service) as well as extensive repairs (engine and transmission disassembly) and allows users to search by product type, brand, model/engine type, specific area of model/engine type, and model numbers. PDF full text is available for all documents.
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Britannica Library. Reference Center — An enhanced version of Encyclopedia Britannica with a world atlas, primary source documents, historical highlights, and media updates.
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Consumer Health Complete — Find trusted information on the health and wellness topics that matter most.
Consumer Reports — Provides unbiased product reviews that help you make an informed purchase. Available on the library’s WiFi for all patrons. Available to Grayslake cardholders remotely.
Driving Tests— Practice for the Illinois driver's license, permit, and senior citizens' refresher tests. Also includes motorcycle and CDL practice tests.
Legal Information Reference Center — Navigate legal matters of all kinds with reliable “how-to” information and thousands of federal, multi-state, and state-specific legal forms. It includes the full text and complete forms from the latest, up-to-date editions of Nolo Press books, written by lawyers for consumers and small businesses.
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LinkedIn Learning — Watch thousands of step-by-step online video tutorials on software, apps, media, marketing, business, and technology.
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Mango Languages — Learn the basics of conversation in languages from Arabic to Vietnamese. Also a great service for English Language Learners (ELL).
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Peterson’s Test and Career Prep — Testing assistance powered by Peterson's for standardized AP/college prep tests, career certification, citizenship tests, and other exams. Research college/graduate schools and tuition assistance. Get advice on careers, resumes, cover letters, interviewing, and networking. Brush up on basic reading, writing, and math skills.
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Teachables — An online database of thousands of searchable and printable, ready-to-use educational materials for educators and parents. Resources include worksheets, lesson plans, games and puzzles, skill sheets, and more for all grades K-8.
Udemy: Gale Presents — An online learning platform for adults who want to improve work-related skills or further develop a personal interest.
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Ancestry.com — For In-library use only! Access thousands of databases and billions of images from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, and Australia.
HeritageHub — Explore your family history with the premier collection of U.S. obituaries and death notices for in-depth genealogical research from 1704 – today. Includes in-depth coverage from all 50 states, hard-to-find content from the mid-1900s, and original obituary images.
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HeritageQuest Online — Find census data, family records, and local histories.
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Historical Chicago Tribune — Access historic full-text issues of the Chicago Tribune.
Niche Academy for Patrons
Grades 3-8:
Britannica Library. Children — An encyclopedia for primary grades, includes a world atlas, primary source documents, images and videos, and biographies.
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Primary Search - Explora — Primary Search is a full-text database of carefully curated content for elementary students. It includes full text for the most popular children's magazines, e-books, and easy-to-read encyclopedic entries written specifically for kids.
Scholastic GO! — Access online encyclopedias for all ages.
ScienceFlix — For students in grades 4-9 interested in learning more about science. It includes topics such as earth science, life science, space, health, technology, and more. You’ll also find science experiments, information on careers in science, and the latest science news.
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Grades 6-12:
Academic Search Premier — Read full-text, indexed, and abstracted journals on a wide range of academic subjects.
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Biography Reference Center — A biographical database offers in-depth profiles and provides full-text articles, images, and abstracts from today’s leading magazines and journals.
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Britannica Library. Young Adults — For middle and high schoolers, includes primary source documents and historical highlights among search results.
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History Reference Center — Contains thousands of reliable resources — including primary source documents, biographies, photos, maps, and videos — to help you complete your research.
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Literary Reference Center — Your go-to resource for reliable information on thousands of writers and their works. Includes biographies, essays, literary criticism, interviews, short stories, classic novels, poems, plot summaries, reviews, and more.
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MasterFILE Premier — Access full-text general interest magazines, reference books, and primary source documents.
Middle Search Plus – Explora — Learn about a variety of subjects for Middle School students. Perfect for Homework Help.
Points of View Reference Center — Contains resources that present multiple sides of an issue. This database provides rich content that can help students assess and develop persuasive arguments and essays, better understand controversial issues and develop analytical thinking skills.
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Science Reference Center — 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.
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Access child-friendly learning resources in these databases.
ABCmouse.com — Access an award-winning online curriculum, containing thousands of interactive books and learning activities. (Grades 3-6) Free for use in our library only.
Britannica Library. Children — An encyclopedia for primary grades, includes a world atlas, primary source documents, images and videos, and biographies.
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Britannica Library. Young Adults — For middle and high schoolers, includes primary source documents and historical highlights among search results.
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Fiero Code — A self-paced learn-to-code software for kids ages 8-18.
NoveList K-8 Plus — Find your next favorite book with this useful database for younger readers.
Primary Search - Explora — Primary Search is a full-text database of carefully curated content for elementary students. It includes full text for the most popular children's magazines, e-books, and easy-to-read encyclopedic entries written specifically for kids.
Scholastic GO! — Access online encyclopedias for all ages. (all ages)
Watch & Learn Library — An online video library for grades Pre-K - 3rd. The library includes videos & printable think sheets in both English and Spanish, real-world footage instead of cartoons, and fun quizzes to help connect real-life concepts to core science, social studies, and English language arts topics.
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Historical Chicago Tribune— Access historic full-text issues of the Chicago Tribune.
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Newsbank — 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, including Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, and Lake County News-Sun.
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Pressreader — Read online or download the app to access today's newspapers from around the country, including the Chicago Tribune, and popular magazines from around the world. To log in click "Sign In", then find us under "Library or Group" button.
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NoveList Plus — Find your next favorite book with this useful database.
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NoveList K-8 Plus — Find your next favorite book with this useful database for younger readers.