Research Tools

HeritageQuest provides access to thousands of local and family histories, the complete U.S. Federal Census, Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, Freedman's Bank Records, city directories, and more.

Full-text local news in the Illinois Times, with coverage from 2003 to the present.

An interactive investment database with information on stocks, mutual funds and ETFs. This database provides independent analysis, charts, portfolio building tools and investment education. Allows for only one user at a time. 

Online access to 4,000+ historical newspapers from the early 1700s into the 2000s. Includes thousands of well-known, regional and state titles to small local newspapers in the United States and other countries.

Get the most out of your Lincoln Library card with video and/or text tutorials for many of the online services we offer. You can also find tutorials on basic computer skills, social media, and more! 

Discover great books for children from kindergarten through grade 8. Browse lists of award-winning titles, or search for books by grade level or Lexile score.

Looking for your next great read? Find series information, reading lists, award winners, book discussion guides, read-alikes and more. Includes both fiction and non-fiction titles. 

Explore Peoria history through local news, events and people with the Peoria Journal Star Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online.

Digital newspaper archive of various editions of the Chicago Defender and Chicago Daily Defender, with coverage from 1909 to 2010. Offers full page and article images with searchable full text back to the first issue.