Consumer & DIY

Independent nonprofit consumer authority providing articles and ratings for Chicago area services and products.

Online automotive repair manuals covering thousands of domestic and imported models of cars and light trucks from 1940 onward. Includes wiring diagrams, videos, animations, and photographs.

Research before you buy, using this helpful information source. Interactive features and frequent updates make the online version even more useful than the print.

More than 1,000 art and craft video classes taught by design experts and artists.
Mobile App Available*

Search 150 major cooking and nutrition magazines for recipes and other food-related information.

Search major periodicals that specialize in these topics.

Search nearly 100 home improvement-focused titles.

Content from industry journals, travel guides, and magazines.

Access to LinkedIn Learning is no longer available. Try our new resource Udemy with thousands of on-demand video courses taught by top instructors.

Learn a new language by listening and repeating phrases from real life conversations. Languages include Spanish, French, Italian, Greek, Russian, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Polish and Japanese.
Mobile App Available*

The National Library of Medicine’s site for consumers – includes directories of doctors and dentists as well as in-depth information on diseases, conditions and treatments in multiple languages.

Search public records for new home purchases, new business starts, foreclosures, sales, and bankruptcies for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties in Illinois.