Middle School
Grades 6-8
Events
Middle ground
A place for middle schoolers to connect, create and collaborate.
Meet us in the Middle Ground where you’ll find:
- Fully-stocked craft table
- Lounge seating area
- 12 Mac computers
- Two to four-person gaming stations with Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch
- Computers with Launchpad software, Fortnite, and Minecraft
Teen space
Mondays, 3:30-7 pm
Grades 6-12
Calling all teens! Hang out at the library in our traveling teen space. Play video games, enjoy snacks, make crafts and spend time with your friends after school. The will be no Teen Space on Mondays that fall on school or federal holidays. No registration.
| October 3-November 28 | Middle Ground |
| December 5-January 30 | Training Lab |
| February 6-March 27 | Cook Room |
Apply here to become a Summer Library Adventure volunteer before May 15.
What to Read Next?
100 Books Before High School
Are you looking for a challenge? Register at the Kids Desk to read and earn prizes. New! Now you can sign up online for this awesome program. Get reading and start earning prizes.
E-books and E-audiobooks
Check out with an ITPLD card
CloudLibrary
Hoopla
Overdrive Kids & Teens
RB Digital (magazines)
TeenBook Cloud
Caudill Award Nominees
The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award is an annual award given to the author of the book voted most outstanding by students in grades four through eight in participating Illinois schools.
Novelist K-8
Read-alikes, lists of award-winning books and recommended books.
Book TAlk lists
During the school year, we bring the library to you to talk about programs and books, tell stories and answer questions to get children excited about the library. Students are given handouts listing books for their grade level:
Research and Homework Help
Resources for all your research and learning needs. Need help using one of these services? Check out Niche Academy for easy-to-follow guides.
Gale Courses
Six-week online continuing education classes. Classes cover many topics from computer software and COMPTIA preparation to Genealogy, PMP and more.
Books and sample tests for SAT and ACT test preparation, GED, workplace skills and citizenship exams.
LinkedIn Learning
Learn technology, creative and business skills. Was Lynda.com.
A national directory with powerful search tools built in. Was called Reference USA.
Value Line
Investment data, tools and analysis.
How to find company reports
Ratings and evaluations of insurance companies, credit unions, banks, stocks and mutual funds.
Tutorials for DIY crafters, creators and artists. Includes patterns and some project lists.
Driving Tests
Rules of the Road and sample driving tests for cars, motorcycles, and the CDL.
Gale Courses
Six-week online continuing education classes. Classes cover many topics from computer software and COMPTIA preparation to Genealogy, PMP and more.
Books and sample tests for SAT and ACT test preparation, GED, workplace skills and citizenship exams.
LinkedIn Learning
Learn technology, creative and business skills.
America’s Historical Newspapers
Historical newspaper articles and obituaries search.
America’s Obituaries and Death Notices
Search for obituaries and death notices from newspapers around the United States.
Search for ancestors in census and other genealogical records from around the world.
Chicago Tribune Historical
Archives from 1849 to 1984.
Search for American ancestors.
Driving Tests
Rules of the Road and sample driving tests for cars, motorcycles, and the CDL in English, Spanish, and Russian.
Work through to get a personalized Medicare Supplement Insurance Planner.
Driving Tests
Rules of the Road and sample driving tests for cars, motorcycles, and the CDL in English, Spanish, and Russian.
Books and sample tests for SAT and ACT test preparation, GED, workplace skills and citizenship exams.
Points of View Reference CenterA guide for debating, developing arguments, writing position papers, and devloping critical thinking skills by providing full scope discussions of controversial subjects.
Tutor.comOne-on-one homework help from certified tutors in a variety of subjects.
American Physical Society journals. NOTE: APS Journals is only available within the library.
ClasePeriodica (español)Science and humanities from Latin American journals.
EcoScholarly journals
EricEducation and teaching journals
MedlineMedicine, dentistry and nursing journals; most aimed at medical professionals.
Duolingo
Language learning tool.
Learn to speak over 70 languages with self-paced lessons.
Become fluent in 80+ different languages. Includes an English language module for ESL students. Guided and free form lessons; live conversation opportunities.
One-stop, first-step in a research project. Simultaneously search six sources. Full text Middle Search Plus article database.
Learning Express LibraryBooks and sample tests for SAT and ACT test preparation, GED, workplace skills and citizenship exams.
Scholastic TeachablesReady-to-use worksheets and forms for parents and teachers to use with their K-8 students.
Points of View Reference Center
A guide for debating, developing arguments, writing position papers, and devloping critical thinking skills by providing full scope discussions of controversial subjects.
Access World News
Article and topic search drawing from newspapers around the world.
One-on-one homework help from certified tutors in a variety of subjects.
Full text and citations from journal articles.
Chicagoland News Sources
Articles from Chicago area papers.
Chicago Tribune Historical
Archives from 1849 to 1984.
One-stop, first-step in a research project. Simultaneously search six sources. Full text Consumer Reports.
First SearchIncludes ArticleFirst, ClasePeriodica, Eco, Eric, Government Publications Office, Medline and WorldCat
NewsBank
Newspaper archives including the Daily Herald, Post-Tribune, Wheeling Countryside and more.
Updated Associated Press news.
Proquest NewsstandArticles from many U.S. major dailies, including Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.
Includes 25,000 references with easy to access full text records.
Legal Forms, Gale
Sample legal forms; available in several editable formats.
Find read-alikes for your favorite books, book discussion guides, lists of award-winning novels and more.
Record Information ServicesChicago area information on real estate transactions, new businesses, foreclosures and bankruptcies.
Reference SolutionsA national directory with powerful search tools built in. Was called Reference USA.
Learn to speak over 70 languages with self-paced lessons.
Novelist K-8Read-alikes, award-winning titles and more.
Scholastic TeachablesReady-to-use worksheets and forms for parents and teachers to use with their K-8 students.
Tumble Book Library
E-books, puzzles, videos and games for youth.
One-on-one homework help from certified tutors in a variety of subjects.