Research & Learn

Bloomington Library offers a lot of databases, and it can become overwhelming trying to find the exact database you need. To generally search through a wider variety of databases visit Explora, a search engine that goes through all the EBSCO databases Bloomington Library offers. With your library card from Bloomington Library, you can access Explora for FREE. To login from outside the library, patrons will need to enter their library card number and PIN/password.

Whether you are going back to school, switching jobs, or just want to brush up on academic skills, BrainFuse Adult Learning Center is here to help. Access practice tests, study materials, and live tutors who can help you prepare you for the GED, High School Equivalency, and Citizenship tests. Resources are available in English and Spanish. Live tutors are available for help in reading, writing, and math from 2-11pm daily. Online tutorials are available. 

Search primary sources devoted specifically to African American family history. This resource also includes exclusive partnership with AfriGeneas -- a popular networking site devoted to African American genealogy -- for direct access to expert advice, moderated forums, chats, mailing lists, surname registry, and more. For more information please view this video on African American Heritage by ProQuest.

Explore and stay informed about local and national topics, people and events in areas such as business, health, education, jobs, careers, political issues, social issues and more with America's News. This resource features a wide variety of credible, vetted news sources spanning the United States, including The Pantagraph. Available remotely 24/7 on any device. Online tutorials are available. 

With Ancestry Library Edition, patrons can access genealogical information using this popular resource which offers family history data for over 500 million names, census information for 1790-1930, city directories, military records, and much more. Online tutorials are available.

Search for historical documents, personal papers and family histories held in archives throughout the world with ArchiveGrid.

If you're repairing your car at home, looking up a recalled part, or just need to identify a diagnostic trouble code, Auto Repair Source can help. This database provides repair information for Thousand of vehicles from 1974 to the present. Online tutorials are available. 

With more than 100 fully digital titles, AV2 World Languages offers children’s eBooks covering a vast amount of educational content. Titles are available in 14 languages with an option to also listen to an audio reading in each language. Patrons will click the title that interests them and then select the desired language once the book loads. This is a FREE resource; no library card is necessary to access AV2 Languages.

This curated collection features open primary source documents such as historical newspaper articles, pamphlets, diaries, correspondence and more from specific time periods in U.S. history marked by the opposition African Americans have faced on the road to freedom. This resource supports a wide range of students, from middle and high school to college, and anyone interested in learning more about the ongoing Black Freedom Struggle. No library card is required to access this collection.

From Black-owned newspapers to mainstream publications, this primary source collection offers an expansive window into centuries of African American history, culture, and daily life-as well as the ways the dominant culture has portrayed and perceived people of African descent. Packed with information unavailable elsewhere, Black Life in America is updated daily and sourced from more than 19,000 American and global news sources, including over 400 African American publications. Access is available 24/7. Online tutorials are available.

After partnering with McLean County Museum of History to house Bloomington Public Library's priceless collection of historical documents, the City Directory from 1854-1920 is now digitized and available for convenient access. Students, researchers, and community residents now have improved access to examine this treasure trove of material.

Through Bloomington-Normal Local History, patrons can view selected images from Bloomington Public Library's Illinois Collection Picture File. These photos relate to the history of the City of Bloomington, the Town of Normal, McLean County, and the surrounding communities.

These pairings of fiction and nonfiction children's titles are designed to strengthen early literacy skills while exposing young learners to real world concepts. With colorful animation, rich audio, and interactive games, BookFlix is a perfect tool to engage and support beginning readers. Online tutorials are available. 

Live homework help and tutoring is available directly to students, as well as schools, libraries, businesses, and community colleges to help K-12 and adult learners succeed. Through Brainfuse HelpNow, live Homework help is available from 2-11pm every day in English and in Spanish. The Brainfuse Mobile App is available in both the iOS (Apple) and Google Play (Android) stores. Online tutorials are available. 

Brainfuse JobNow offers resume writing help, cover letter assistance, and interview tips -- including online mock interview practice, career coaching, and resume writing labs. Live help is available from 2-11pm daily in English and Spanish. The Brainfuse Mobile App is available in both the both the iOS (Apple) and Google Play (Android) stores. Online tutorials are available. 

Brainfuse VetNow navigators help veterans and their families understand and apply for eligible benefits from their local, state, or federal programs. Navigators can help with everything from housing and health care to education, mental health, and more.

VetNow provides academic tutoring, and employment transition assistance. VetNow is accessible by any computer or mobile device with a web browser. Live online help with trained navigators is available every day 2-11 pm.

Analyze unbiased reviews and comparisons of products and services using Consumer Reports. Since 1936, Consumer Reports has published reviews of products and services using results from its in-house testing laboratory and survey research center. The magazine accepts no advertising, pays for all the products it tests, and, as a nonprofit organization, has no shareholders. Access to the Consumer Reports database is free with your library card. Online tutorials are available. 

DigitalLearn.org is a hub from the Public Library Association of video-based tutorials to help beginners learn computing skills and increase confidence using the Internet. Digital Learn is a free resource.