Some of these sites have books you can read directly online or download to read later, while other sites have audiobooks you can listen to on your computer or download to a portable device. A selection of book finding aids is also included.
Denotes resources suitable for students in elementary and middle grades
Web resource 
Available with Skokie Public Library card 
Available in Library only
Read Books Online
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Gale Virtual Reference Library is a database of more than two hundred full text reference sources for research. Areas covered include Arts, Biography, Business, History, Literature, Medicine, and more. At one time, these reference materials were accessible only in print form from within the Library, but are now available online.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database
Safari Books Online
Safari Books Online offers access to the full content of over 1,600 books primarily in the field of computing and information technology. You can search the electronic versions of books from leading publishers such as O'Reilly, Sams, Microsoft Press, Que, and IBM.
TumbleBook Library for Kids
The TumbleBook Library is an online collection of animated, talking picture
books, puzzles, and quizzes especially for children. Stories are adapted
from existing picture books and can be enjoyed in English, Spanish, or
Chinese languages.
TumbleTalking Books Collection
TumbleTalkingBooks is an online collection of over three hundred full length
audiobooks which you can listen to from any computer with an Internet
connection. Titles are arranged in the general categories of Fiction,
Non-Fiction, Classics, Children, and Read-Along. You can browse titles in these
categories or further narrow your search by subcategory. No special software
or listening devices are needed.
Download Books to Your Computer or a Portable Device
North Suburban
Digital Consortium
As a member of the North Suburban Digital Consortium, any Skokie Public Library cardholder may download both eBooks and digital audiobooks to their home computer or laptop for a loan period of three weeks. These materials include popular fiction and nonfiction titles, are available 24/7, and can be accessed through our website and online catalog from anywhere. The digital audiobooks can be burned to CDs or downloaded to a computer or MP3 player. Visit the North Suburban Digital Consortium site to access this collection and download the free, required software.
Book Finding Aids
Children's Literature Comprehensive Database
Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) contains an extensive array of information about children's books, video and audio recordings, film strips, and other children-focused media. The database contains more than 130,000 critical reviews of thousands of children's books, ranging from the earliest baby board books to novels and nonfiction for young adults, and an average of more than 1,500 new reviews are added to the database monthly.
NoveList
NoveList is a guide for fiction readers of all ages and allows
readers to find new authors and titles by searching for similar authors,
subjects, or award winning titles. NoveList contains full text
reviews.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database
TeachingBooks.net
TeachingBooks.net offers easy access to audio excerpts of book readings by authors and professional actors; book discussion guides; original movies featuring authors and illustrators at work in their studios; and links to author websites, biographies, activities, and contact information. An "Educator Area" provides thematic booklists, information about children's book awards, and links to related resources in twenty-five categories. The TeachingBooks.net content is divided equally between elementary school-aged content and middle/high school-aged content.