Skip to main content
close
Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable contrast.

Online resources

 * Starred resources require a Chicago Ridge Library Card to access outside the library building.

  • AgeOptions

    As the Area Agency on Aging of suburban Cook County, Illinois, AgeOptions advocates, plans, coordinates and funds services for older adults. Services include information and assistance, community dining programs and home-delivered meals, housekeeping help, employment services, access to benefits and support for family caregivers.

  • Ancestry Library

    Search billions of genealogy documents—including census, military, immigration, birth, and death records—in the library version of Ancestry.com.

  • AtoZdatabases

    AtoZdatabases is the premier Reference, Research, Marketing, Mailing Lists/Sales Leads, and Job-Search Database. The database includes 30 million business & executive profiles, over 240 million residents with interests, hobbies and lifestyles information, over 7 million real-time job listings, 2 Million new businesses, over 12 million healthcare professionals, over 12 million new movers, 2 million new homeowners, and much more. The databases are ideal for sales leads, mailing lists, market research, employment opportunities, background searches, finding friends, relatives and a whole lot of other possibilities.

  • Ballotpedia

    Ballotpedia is the digital encyclopedia of American politics, and the nation’s premier resource for unbiased information on elections, politics, and policy. Find out what's on your ballot with their easy sample ballot lookup tool

  • Consumer Reports*

    Find ratings and recommendations on appliances, electronics, cars, and more from the popular magazine and website. Please call the Adult Services desk to get the login information.

  • Cook County Clerk Elections

    Register to vote; check your registration status, polling place and more; get sample ballots and information on candidates; and more.

  • Digital Learn

    Videos to help you understand computers and digital literacy. Topics include: Getting Started on the Computer, Basic Search, Navigating a Website, Intro to Email, Intro to Word, Online Job Searching, Intro to Facebook, and more.

  • Explora Public Libraries*

    Access high-quality articles and facts for research papers, class projects and homework. 

  • FamilySearch

    FamilySearch is a free online resource for beginning your genealogy journey. Simply create a account with your email address to get started!

  • Fantastic Fiction

    Search and browse the complete works of over 50,000 bestselling fiction authors, with all the latest books and series listed in order. Sign up to follow authors.

  • GCF Learn Free

    Learn the essential skills you need to live and work in the 21st century. From Microsoft Office and email to reading, math, resume writing, personal finance, graphic design and more, GCFLearnFree.org offers more than 200 topics, including more than 7,000 lessons, more than 1,000 videos, and more than 50 interactives and games, completely free.

  • Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)

    Find information about unemployment insurance (UI) and file a claim.

  • Illinois DMV Practice Tests

    Information about obtaining a driving permit in Illinois for cars and motorcycles, including the Illinois Rules of the Road and the Illinois Motorcycle Operator Manual. Includes 9 free practice tests to prepare for the DMV test for a permit to drive a car and 6 free practice tests to prepare for the motorcycle permit test.

  • Illinois Job Link

    IllinoisJobLink.com provides job seekers with easy-to-use tools that support a wide range of activities including creating/posting resumes, searching for jobs, and determining whether you're eligible for state- or federally funded workforce programs.

  • Illinois Public Records*

    Search key public record data for personal and business use. Databases include: Bankruptcy Records, Business Licenses, Divorce Records, DUI Records, Felony Records, Foreclosures and Auctions, Misdemeanor Records, Mortgage Records, Real Estate Transactions, State and Federal Tax Liens, and Tax Sale Properties. For access inside the library, click here.

  • Immigrants Like Us

    Immigrants Like Us is a non-profit offering low-income immigrants free legal services for preparing DACA and immigration forms. The free online application allows users to easily enter their information and completes necessary immigration forms and documents needed. These forms are then reviewed for free by their in-house legal team.

  • Medline Plus

    Trusted health information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Search for health topics, drugs, supplements, and read informative health articles.

  • Moraine Valley ESL

    Information about Moraine Valley's English as a Second Language (ESL) program and Intensive English Language Program (IELP).

  • ProCitizen

    ProCitizen is a comprehensive citizen course offering over 100 instructional videos, plus interactive drills and quizzes, providing the civics, vocabulary, plus reading and writing practice that new citizens need to succeed at the US naturalization test.

  • Property Tax Exemptions - Cook County Assessor's Office

    Find the forms for the Homeowner Exemption, Senior Citizen Exemption, Senior Freeze exemption and more here.

  • Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program - Cook County Treasurer

    The Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral program is a tax-relief program that works like a loan. It allows qualified seniors to defer a maximum of $5,000 per tax year (this includes 1st and 2nd installments) on their primary home. The loan from the State of Illinois is paid when the property is sold, or upon the death of the participant.

  • Senior Planet

    Senior Planet from AARP provides courses, programs, and activities to help seniors learn new skills, save money, exercise to get in shape, and make new friends. Resources include Tech Tip Videos and free 1-to-1 Tech Tutoring through Zoom.

  • Tax Forms - Federal
  • Tax Forms - Illinois
  • Tax Help - Free Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers
  • USA Learns

    USA Learns is a free website that helps adults learn English and prepare for U.S. citizenship online. 

    • Fantastic Fiction

      Search and browse the complete works of over 50,000 bestselling fiction authors, with all the latest books and series listed in order. Sign up to follow authors.

    • AtoZdatabases

      AtoZdatabases is the premier Reference, Research, Marketing, Mailing Lists/Sales Leads, and Job-Search Database. The database includes 30 million business & executive profiles, over 240 million residents with interests, hobbies and lifestyles information, over 7 million real-time job listings, 2 Million new businesses, over 12 million healthcare professionals, over 12 million new movers, 2 million new homeowners, and much more. The databases are ideal for sales leads, mailing lists, market research, employment opportunities, background searches, finding friends, relatives and a whole lot of other possibilities.

    • Illinois Public Records*

      Search key public record data for personal and business use. Databases include: Bankruptcy Records, Business Licenses, Divorce Records, DUI Records, Felony Records, Foreclosures and Auctions, Misdemeanor Records, Mortgage Records, Real Estate Transactions, State and Federal Tax Liens, and Tax Sale Properties. For access inside the library, click here.

    • Immigrants Like Us

      Immigrants Like Us is a non-profit offering low-income immigrants free legal services for preparing DACA and immigration forms. The free online application allows users to easily enter their information and completes necessary immigration forms and documents needed. These forms are then reviewed for free by their in-house legal team.

    • ProCitizen

      ProCitizen is a comprehensive citizen course offering over 100 instructional videos, plus interactive drills and quizzes, providing the civics, vocabulary, plus reading and writing practice that new citizens need to succeed at the US naturalization test.

    • USA Learns

      USA Learns is a free website that helps adults learn English and prepare for U.S. citizenship online. 

    • Digital Learn

      Videos to help you understand computers and digital literacy. Topics include: Getting Started on the Computer, Basic Search, Navigating a Website, Intro to Email, Intro to Word, Online Job Searching, Intro to Facebook, and more.

    • GCF Learn Free

      Learn the essential skills you need to live and work in the 21st century. From Microsoft Office and email to reading, math, resume writing, personal finance, graphic design and more, GCFLearnFree.org offers more than 200 topics, including more than 7,000 lessons, more than 1,000 videos, and more than 50 interactives and games, completely free.

    • Consumer Reports*

      Find ratings and recommendations on appliances, electronics, cars, and more from the popular magazine and website. Please call the Adult Services desk to get the login information.

    • Illinois Public Records*

      Search key public record data for personal and business use. Databases include: Bankruptcy Records, Business Licenses, Divorce Records, DUI Records, Felony Records, Foreclosures and Auctions, Misdemeanor Records, Mortgage Records, Real Estate Transactions, State and Federal Tax Liens, and Tax Sale Properties. For access inside the library, click here.

    • Moraine Valley ESL

      Information about Moraine Valley's English as a Second Language (ESL) program and Intensive English Language Program (IELP).

    • USA Learns

      USA Learns is a free website that helps adults learn English and prepare for U.S. citizenship online. 

    • Ancestry Library

      Search billions of genealogy documents—including census, military, immigration, birth, and death records—in the library version of Ancestry.com.

    • FamilySearch

      FamilySearch is a free online resource for beginning your genealogy journey. Simply create a account with your email address to get started!

    • Medline Plus

      Trusted health information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Search for health topics, drugs, supplements, and read informative health articles.

    • Explora Public Libraries*

      Access high-quality articles and facts for research papers, class projects and homework. 

    • GCF Learn Free

      Learn the essential skills you need to live and work in the 21st century. From Microsoft Office and email to reading, math, resume writing, personal finance, graphic design and more, GCFLearnFree.org offers more than 200 topics, including more than 7,000 lessons, more than 1,000 videos, and more than 50 interactives and games, completely free.

    • AtoZdatabases

      AtoZdatabases is the premier Reference, Research, Marketing, Mailing Lists/Sales Leads, and Job-Search Database. The database includes 30 million business & executive profiles, over 240 million residents with interests, hobbies and lifestyles information, over 7 million real-time job listings, 2 Million new businesses, over 12 million healthcare professionals, over 12 million new movers, 2 million new homeowners, and much more. The databases are ideal for sales leads, mailing lists, market research, employment opportunities, background searches, finding friends, relatives and a whole lot of other possibilities.

    • Digital Learn

      Videos to help you understand computers and digital literacy. Topics include: Getting Started on the Computer, Basic Search, Navigating a Website, Intro to Email, Intro to Word, Online Job Searching, Intro to Facebook, and more.

    • GCF Learn Free

      Learn the essential skills you need to live and work in the 21st century. From Microsoft Office and email to reading, math, resume writing, personal finance, graphic design and more, GCFLearnFree.org offers more than 200 topics, including more than 7,000 lessons, more than 1,000 videos, and more than 50 interactives and games, completely free.

    • Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)

      Find information about unemployment insurance (UI) and file a claim.

    • Illinois Job Link

      IllinoisJobLink.com provides job seekers with easy-to-use tools that support a wide range of activities including creating/posting resumes, searching for jobs, and determining whether you're eligible for state- or federally funded workforce programs.

    • AgeOptions

      As the Area Agency on Aging of suburban Cook County, Illinois, AgeOptions advocates, plans, coordinates and funds services for older adults. Services include information and assistance, community dining programs and home-delivered meals, housekeeping help, employment services, access to benefits and support for family caregivers.

    • Senior Planet

      Senior Planet from AARP provides courses, programs, and activities to help seniors learn new skills, save money, exercise to get in shape, and make new friends. Resources include Tech Tip Videos and free 1-to-1 Tech Tutoring through Zoom.

    • GCF Learn Free

      Learn the essential skills you need to live and work in the 21st century. From Microsoft Office and email to reading, math, resume writing, personal finance, graphic design and more, GCFLearnFree.org offers more than 200 topics, including more than 7,000 lessons, more than 1,000 videos, and more than 50 interactives and games, completely free.

    • Illinois DMV Practice Tests

      Information about obtaining a driving permit in Illinois for cars and motorcycles, including the Illinois Rules of the Road and the Illinois Motorcycle Operator Manual. Includes 9 free practice tests to prepare for the DMV test for a permit to drive a car and 6 free practice tests to prepare for the motorcycle permit test.

    • Illinois Public Records*

      Search key public record data for personal and business use. Databases include: Bankruptcy Records, Business Licenses, Divorce Records, DUI Records, Felony Records, Foreclosures and Auctions, Misdemeanor Records, Mortgage Records, Real Estate Transactions, State and Federal Tax Liens, and Tax Sale Properties. For access inside the library, click here.

    • Ballotpedia

      Ballotpedia is the digital encyclopedia of American politics, and the nation’s premier resource for unbiased information on elections, politics, and policy. Find out what's on your ballot with their easy sample ballot lookup tool

    • Cook County Clerk Elections

      Register to vote; check your registration status, polling place and more; get sample ballots and information on candidates; and more.

Ready Reference

Need to look something up quickly? Here are some great reference websites for you to get started.