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.

This resource is jam packed with test prep, tutorials, and lessons to teach skills in fundamental areas. Through LearningExpress, basic computer and internet skill guides are available. Job seekers can find tools needed to explore careers, build professional resumes, and even find job listings. College and high school students can access PrepSTEP to complete practice tests in some of the most common exams like GED, ACT, SAT and more. With your library card from Bloomington Library, you can access this resource for FREE. To login from outside the library, patrons will need to enter their library card number and PIN/password. You will need to set up an account once you get to the LearningExpress website.

This resource offers thousands of legal forms by topic including Bankruptcy, Divorce, Name Changes, Wills & Estate Planning, and more. Legal Guides and full-text articles are also available to assist attorneys, educators, paralegals, and students. With your library card from Bloomington Library, you can access Legal Information Source for FREE. To login from outside the library, patrons will need to enter their library card number and PIN/password.

This definitive database for LGBTQ+ studies provides scholarly and popular LGBTQ+ publications in full text. Historically important primary sources, including monographs, magazines, newspapers, videos, and a specialized LGBTQ+ thesaurus containing thousands of terms is also available. With your library card from Bloomington Library, you can access LGBTQ+ Source for FREE. To login from outside the library, patrons will need to enter their library card number and PIN/password.

Access thousands of popular and bestselling ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines for all ages as well as popular kids movies, TV shows, and more at the Digital Library of Illinois or through the Libby app. An online Instruction Guide is available.

Offering in-demand skills training via more than 16,000 online courses (some available in multiple languages), LinkedIn Learning is a great resource taught by real-world professionals (formerly called Lynda.com). Online tutorial are available.

Bloomington Public Library offers a variety of resources useful when researching local history and exploring family research. Navigating these resources can feel a bit overwhelming. This guide was designed to help you find the information you seek. Resources referenced are available for use during any of the library's open hours. For assistance in locating or working with these resources, please visit library staff at the Help Desk in the Adult Services Department. Unless otherwise noted, the materials on this list are in the Nonfiction Illinois Collection. Some items listed are non-circulating (for use in the library only). Fragile and rare materials are housed in the Illinois Collection Locked Case.

Immerse yourself in everyday conversations via 70+ different language courses. Mango Languages also offers ESL courses to native speakers of 21 different languages. Mango is designed to equip users with conversational abilities from the very start, and is available as a mobile app for iPhone and Android! Online tutorials are available.

Find extensive information about more than 650 diseases and conditions from the National Institutes for Health and other trusted sources with MedLine Plus. Also available: lists of hospitals and physicians; a medical encyclopedia and dictionary; health information; information about prescription and nonprescription drugs; and links to thousands of clinical trials. This resource offers information in both English and Spanish.

We provide free online access to the New York Times with your Bloomington Library Card. Patrons inside the library can access the online version of the New York Times at any time. The New York Times is also accessible remotely via a digital pass that you can check out with your library card. 5,000 passes are available each day. When accessing this database offsite, you will need to receive and redeem a 24-hour code. Once that 24-hour period expires, you will need to sign in again to receive another 24-hour code.

This resource provides a full-text digital collection of the world’s major news content. It includes millions of articles from newspapers, newswires, television & radio transcripts, and ongoing daily updates from popular news sources. Featured newspapers include St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more. With your library card from Bloomington Library, you can access Newspaper Source Plus for FREE. To login from outside the library, patrons will need to enter their library card number and PIN/password.

Focusing on book recommendations for young readers, NoveList K-8 Plus is great for finding your next read. Browse genres and find award winning literature that will keep young readers engaged. 

Find your next favorite book or author with NoveList Plus. Browse genres; find the newest popular titles for any age; and keep up with the latest publication information. Online tutorials are available. 

Bloomington Library offers multiple databases that offer a variety of access to The Pantagraph, a newspaper local to Bloomington, IL. Find full-text articles about local news, issues, events, people, images and more. Click View from Anywhere below to look through the different databases.

This award winning PreK-3 database for reading and research makes learning fun. The PebbleGo database helps improve reading and research skills while building on children's interests. 

Find full-text articles about news, issues, events, people and more as you search Peoria Journal Star archives from 1991 - today. Articles from 2019 are available with text and images. The 2006-2020 blogs are also available. Updated daily, the archive includes obituaries, editorials, announcements, sports, real estate and more.

The Post Amerikan was Bloomington-Normal's underground alternative newspaper published from 1972 to 2004, making its 32 years the longest continuous publication run for any underground newspaper in America. This historic newspaper is now available online due to a collaboration between the McLean County Museum of History, owner of an archive of nearly all the Post Amerikan's 32-year-run of issues, and EIU's Booth Library.

This highly specialized database of full-text electronic information offers a lot of resources for educators, librarians, and researchers. With your library card from Bloomington Library, you can access Professional Development Collection for FREE. To login from outside the library, patrons will need to enter their library card number and PIN/password.