Research Databases

IVC LibGuide

Our LibGuide is full of many valuable research resources on a variety of topics. The PDF is hyperlinked and includes short descriptions of the resources.

Accelerated Reader Book List

Our library collection contains many books listed in Accelerated Reader. We’ve compiled a list of all AR books that are available in our library, along with their level, point value, and a hyperlink to the item in our catalog! 

A to Z World Food

A to Z World Food is a database containing more than 7,000 traditional recipes from 174 countries, along with thousands of ingredient, food culture, and reference articles, making it the largest food database of its kind. It also enables users to forward recipes to friends by email and even create their own personal cookbook of favorite recipes! Log in using your library card and get cooking!

OnlineU

OnlineU is an online resource dedicated to helping students find affordable online colleges that match their education and career goals. Its resources include tuition rate comparisons, degree comparisons, and financial and future planning articles. Visit the OnlineU resources page for articles designed to help you plan for a higher education degree!

Ancestry Library Edition

Ancestry Library Edition (this link will only work in the library) provides access to resources like historical records, publications, and photos and may be used from any library computer or from any personal device connected to the library’s wireless Internet. You can find more information about Ancestry Library Edition on their about page (this link can be accessed from anywhere).

Family Search

FamilySearch is a nonprofit family history organization dedicated to connecting families across generations.  For over 100 years, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing – free of charge – genealogical records and is now the largest genealogy organization in the world.

Black Freedom Struggle

Black Freedom Struggle features select primary source documents related to critical people and events in African American history. A free resource, the website hopes that “by centering on the experiences and perspectives of African Americans, we hope this collection imbues the study of Black history with a deeper understanding of the humanity of people who have pursued the quest for freedom, and the significance of movements like Black Lives Matter.” Visit Black Freedom Struggle and find approximately 1,600 documents focused on Black Freedom.

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 using NewsBank. Features a wide variety of credible, vetted news sources spanning the U.S., including the Chillicothe Times-Bulletin and Peoria Journal Star. In order to access NewsBank and its HeritageHub, Black Life in America, and Hispanic Life in America databases you will need to enter your library card number when prompted. Available remotely 24/7 on any device.

HeritageHub

Explore your family history with the premier collection of U.S. obituaries and death notices for in-depth genealogical research from 1704 – today. HeritageHub helps you easily identify relatives, uncover new information and potentially unknown family members. Includes deep coverage from all 50 states, hard-to-find content from the mid 1900’s, and original obituary images.

Black Life in America

The experience and impact of African Americans as recorded by the news media. The Black Life in America database is sourced from more than 19,000 American and global news sources, including over 400 current and historical Black publications.

Hispanic Life in America

The experience and impact of Hispanic Americans as recorded by the news media, 1704 to today. The Hispanic Life in America database is sourced from more than 17,000 American and global news sources, including over 700 Spanish-language or bilingual publications.

Illinois Digital Newspaper Collection

The Illinois Digital Newspaper Collection contains 129 newspaper titles, 150,215 issues comprising 1,560,385 pages and 6,887,660 articles including select editions of the Chillicothe Independent (1881-1885).  Since 2005, the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library at the University of Illinois has been developing unique digital newspaper content. The works collected here include digital facsimiles of newspapers and trade journals in a variety of fields. Users may search, browse, tag, and correct OCR text to improve searchability and access.

Illinois Digital Archives

The Illinois Digital Archives was created in 2000 as a repository for the digital collections of the Illinois State Library as well as other libraries and cultural institutions in the State of Illinois. You can find photographs, slides, glass negatives, oral histories, manuscripts, letters, federal government documents, postcards, maps, and much more.

IVC High School Yearbooks

The IVC High School Yearbooks page features an extensive digital collection of year books from the Chillicothe Township High School and Illinois Valley Central High School. This collection is offered as a series of Google Docs folders.

Internet Archive

The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Like a paper library, we provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, the print disabled, and the general public. Our mission is to provide Universal Access to All Knowledge. 

Digital Public Library of America

Digital Public Library of America connects people to the riches held within America’s libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage institutions. All of the materials found through DPLA—photographs, books, maps, news footage, oral histories, personal letters, museum objects, artwork, government documents, and so much more—are free and immediately available in digital format.  

Europeana Collections

Europeana Collections provides access to over 50 million digitized items – books, music, artworks and more – with sophisticated search and filter tools to help you find what you’re looking for.

Our dedicated thematic collections on art, fashion, music, photography and World War I contain galleries, blogs and  exhibitions to inform and inspire. 

Other Resources

Chillicothe Public Library is proud to house a selection of historical newspapers.

We have physical copies of the Chillicothe Enquirer (1922 – 1927) and the Chillicothe Times Bulletin (1922-1980), along with microfilm copies of the Chillicothe Times Bulletin dating back more than 100 years.