IL State Income Tax State tax information
Federal Income Tax Federal tax information
IRS Tax Forms Federal tax forms printable
IRS Tax Forms Federal tax forms to be delivered to your home
H&R Block File locally, online or chat live with a tax professional
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Local tax preparation, tax tools & resources
West & Company Local tax preparation
Turbo Tax Tax preparation online
Movies
RMC Cinemas Effingham’s movie theater
Internet Movie Database Information on movies, actors, etc.
Netflix Order videos and watch instant videos online
Crackle Watch instant videos online
Hulu Watch instant videos online
Plugged In Reviews movies, videos, music, TV and games
Museums, Theatre and Art
Effingham Performance Center Effingham’s entertainment source for live performances
East Central Illinois Events Family fun and community events
Illinois Arts Council Connects Communities with Art
Illinois Association of Museums Museum events in Illinois
Artcyclopedia.com Links to 1,200 art sites
Edsitement Provides lesson plans and websites on Art & Culture
Smithsonian Museums The World’s Largest Museum and Research Complex
Chilton Do-It-Yourself automotive help
CyberDriveIllinois Illinois Department of Motor Vehicle Information
Illinois Department of Transportation Road Conditions in Illinois
NADA Pricing, specs, reviews, etc.
Kelley Blue Book Pricing, reviews, car values
Carfax Vehicle Detailed Vehicle History Report
Online Book Discussions & Reading Suggestions
GoodReads.com Book recommendations, track what you’ve read, book discussions
What’s Next Find books in series
BookBrowse Book recommendations
Stop, You’re Killing Me! For lovers of mystery, crime, thriller, spy, and suspense books
Fantastic Fiction Best-selling author info with the latest books, covers & descriptions
Compass Book Ratings Book reviews and content ratings
Cozy Mystery Cozy Mysteries and other favorite books and DVDs
What Should I Read Next Enter a book you like and they will provide suggestions
Reading Suggestions for Children
The Best Children’s Books Teachers’ picks for the best books for kids
Find a Book Find a book that matches your child’s lexile or grade level
Books for Boys Book talks – from picture books for toddlers to chapter books for teens
Book Adventure Free online program: create book lists, take quizzes, and collect prizes
Storyline Online Streaming videos featuring famous people reading kid’s books aloud.
Open eBooks An app containing thousands of titles that are free for children and can be read without checkouts or holds.
Books & Literature
Google Books Millions of great books you can preview or read for free
DailyLit Read books by email or RSS feed
Library of Congress Information on the world’s published books
Project Gutenberg Books online
LibriVox Audiobooks online
Spark Notes Analysis of popular books
Juvenile Series and Sequels Book series organized by age group
Based on the book Books, novels, short stories, and plays made into motion pictures
Illinois Talking Books Free service for the blind or visually impaired
Book Doctor Book repair advice and resources
Consumer Information
Federal Trade Commission Receive your free credit report once per year
Better Business Bureau Consumer and business resources
CardRatings Compare credit cards
Consumer Action Website Prevent identity theft, understand credit, and shop smarter
Consumer Search Product Reviews
Consumer.gov Managing your money; credit, loans & debt; scams & identity theft
Illinois Attorney General Identity Theft Hotline
Entrepreneurship
SCORE Skilled business owners & educators act as mentors to potential owners
State of Illinois Business Portal Tax incentives for businesses
America’s Small Business Assistance Network Small Business Help
U.S. Small Business Administration Resources for starting/operating a small business
All Business Small business forms, how-to, advice, etc
Bplans Sample Business Plans
Business Owners’ Idea Cafe Resources for starting and running a small business
Digital Learn
Digital Learn If you are new to computers, haven’t used them for a while, are a little unsure and uncomfortable, or just need a bit of a refresher, we have the tools to help you tackle technology at your own pace and gain the confidence you need to succeed.
Webucator
Webucator Do you want to learn how to use Microsoft Word or Excel? What about Adobe Photoshop?
Effingham Library patrons can use Webucator to access over 100 free online courses.
Homework Help
AR BookFinder Accelerated Reader book levels, points, and descriptions of books
Practice Language Arts K-12 Practice questions for children according to grade level
Grammar Girl Helpful tips on grammar and punctuation
GCF Learn For Free Tutorials for adult learners from computers to math to money
Homeschooling
Illinois Christian Home Educators Dedicated to the success of homeschooling in Illinois
Homeschool World Illinois Groups Illinois homeschool groups
Home Oriented Unique Schooling Experience Statewide network of support groups
Homeschool World Articles, experts, events, groups, forum, etc
Homeschooler’s Curriculum Swap Buy or sell homeschool curriculum
Homeschoolingbooks.com Homeschool curriculum packages
College Funding
Federal Student Aid Free Application for Student Aid
FinAid Find funding for your college education
Scholarship Help A variety of scholarship opportunities
FastWeb Find scholarships you qualify for with a questionnaire
America’s Career InfoNet Scholarships, fellowships, loans and financial aid opportunities
College Savings Plan Network Information on 529 college savings plans
Finding the Right College for you
Campus Tours Virtual college tours
College Navigator Find colleges based on location, setting, test scores, athletics, etc
Community College Review Detailed profiles of US community colleges
Gradschools.com Information on graduate school programs
Vocational Schools Database Vocational schools across America
Kiplinger Find the best value in public colleges
U.S. News & World Report Ranks universities & Colleges by region
College/Test Prep
Peterson’s Test prep and admission guidelines
The ACT Learn what to do before, during and after the ACT
Educational Testing Service Online test prep for GRE, SAT, AP, & TOEFL exams
Smartteaching.org SAT test prep
Adventures in Education College planning resources & career guidance
College Answer College selection, application & financing
FreeTestPrep Test prep for SAT, ACT & GED with flash cards and practice tests
For Teachers
Illinois State Board of Education Illinois learning standards, required skills by grade level
U.S. Department of Education Federal site on education
Illinois PBS Learning Media Explore blogs written by teachers
Edsitement Lesson plans on art, culture, language arts, foreign language, history & more
Education World Lesson plans, etc.
Confusing Words Collection of troublesome words
Online Writing Lab Writing resources & instructional materials
Teacher Tube Educational videos
Effingham County- Did you Know? Effingham cemeteries, veteran’s & Effingham history
Illinois Vital Records Illinois birth, marriage, civil union, dissolution & other records
Illinois State Archives Illinois birth, marriage, death and land records
Illinois Public Record Illinois property, death/birth, divorce/marriage records
Department of Veteran Affairs Search for burial locations of veterans
Cyndi’s List A categorized & cross-referenced index to genealogical resources
The Statue of Liberty- Ellis Island Foundation Information on the Ellis Island Immigrants
US Gen Web Project Volunteers providing free genealogy websites for all of the US
Find a Grave Find the graves of ancestors or famous people from around the world
Federal
USA.gov US government’s official web portal
Social Security Administration Apply for benefits or locate the closest SS Office
The White House President’s Weekly Address, the National budget and more
Federal and State Institutions Governmental departments and offices
Central Intelligence Agency History, economy, geography and people
Federal Citizen Information Center Contact information for federal programs or services
United States House of Representatives Find your representative
State & Local
City of Effingham Police, Fire, city departments and City Council Meeting agendas
Illinois Government Illinois Government Facts & Information
Illinois Attorney General’s Office Health care assistance, consumer alerts and more
Illinois Governor’s Office Government directory & state agencies
Illinois General Assembly Members and committees of the Illinois House and Senate
Illinois Blue Book Illinois courts, congress, legislature, education, state and local facts
Library of Congress State and local government
Voter Information
Illinois State Board of Elections Voter Registration, polling places, voters guide
Project Vote Smart Find your representatives & information on candidates
FactCheck Monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players
League of Women Voters Encourages informed and active participation in government
OpenSecrets Resource for federal campaign contributions, lobbying data and analysis
EPL Voter Tools Voter registration resources and reminders
History
Science.gov 12 federal science agencies & 50 million pages of scientific research
Best of History History websites and lesson plans
EuroDocs Online source for European history
University of Oklahoma College of Law Chronology of US historical documents
The American Presidency Project Documents related to the study of the Presidency
BBC News History, economy, and politics of countries and territories
Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers
Edsitement Lesson plans and websites on History & Social Studies
Constitution Study Guide Study guide for the GED Constitution test
Geography
U.S. Department of State Facts about the land, people, history & government
World Gazetteer Comprehensive set of population data and related statistics
Population Reference Bureau Population trends including aging, education & health
Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory Unbiased travel information to the public
Occupations, Labor Market Information & Career Exploration
IDES workforce & career information Illinois career and labor market information
Occupational Outlook Handbook Find earnings, job prospects, and working conditions
O*NET skills search Identify occupations for exploration
Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Exploration Explore careers related to your interests
ZipRecruiter Explore careers & negotiate salaries
Job Loss
Illinois Worknet The library is an IL Worknet Partner – ask staff for assistance
Illinois Department of Employment Security Unemployment services and guidance
One-Stop Career Center Unemployment benefits, update your resume and more
Local Job Information
Effingham Daily News Classified advertisements for local jobs
Job Match Personnel Services Professional recruiting, office staffing, light industrial
Innovative Staff Solutions Temporary & temp-to-hire staffing, professional recruiting
Westaff Temporary staffing, career counseling, job alerts
Indeed Job listings from major job boards, newspapers, and company HR pages
Simply Hired Search by keyword, location, job category, industry, or company
Specialized Job Sites
Government Jobs Matches applicants with state and local government job listings
Employment with a Criminal Record Helping unemployed people with criminal records
Absolutely Health Care More than 275,000 health care jobs
Civilian Jobs Specializes in placing military candidates into civilian careers
Online Networking & Interviewing
Linked in Create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments
Facebook Join a network that shares your interests or career goals
Monster.com Interview Information Informative articles on the art of being interviewed
TechBoomers Tutorials on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more
Resumes & Cover letters
Illinois Worknet The library is an IL Worknet Partner – ask staff for assistance
eResumes Resume help, tips, formats, examples, cover letters
Military Careers
ASVAB Career Exploration Program Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery help
Careers in the Military Careers by job family and info from active military personnel
Military.com ASVAB prep, military scholarship database, and deployment prep
My Future Sign up to receive information on branches of the service that interest you
Effingham Legal Self Help Center gives you access to legal information and provides help for Illinois residents. Access to online documents, automated forms, and a complete library of self-help materials. No username or password is needed.
Illinois Courts The Illinois court system
Southern Illinois University Self Help & Referral Sites Information/forms on legal issues Lawyers.com Over 1 million lawyers and law firms searchable Nolo Lawyers, Legal forms, law books, legal software and more
AVVO Free legal advice from top rated lawyers
Maps
Mapquest Maps and driving directions
Yahoo Maps Maps and driving directions
Google Maps Maps and driving directions
University of Texas at Austin Maps of countries
Global Gazetteer Maps of countries
Google Earth Satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings
David Rumsey Map Collection Historical map collection
Weather
National Weather Service Weather info – National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin
Weather Channel National and local weather forecast, hurricane, radar and report
SpaceWeather.com News and Information about the sun and earth environment
Weather Underground Maps, radar and local weather
Road Conditions
Illinois Department of Transportation Illinois travel info – road conditions and closures
Indiana Department of Transportation Indiana travel information
Iowa Department of Transportation Iowa travel information
Ohio Department of Transportation Ohio travel information
Wisconsin Department of Transportation Wisconsin travel information
General Medical
St. Anthony Memorial Hospital Effingham’s local hospital
Mayo Clinic Medical information and tools for healthy living
American Medical Association Doctor finder, medical terminology, prescription info
WebMD Symptom checker, drugs & supplements, health news
Kids Health Answers, advice, homework help & how the body works
Physicians’ Desktop Reference Drug dosage and side effects
World Health Organization Info on diseases and health issues affecting the globe
Government Health Websites
Illinois Department of Public Health Health Care Report Card
U.S. Food & Drug Administration Protects and promotes public health
Medline Plus U.S. National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health
Genetics Home Reference Your Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions
Centers for Disease Control Provides information to enhance health decisions
NCAM National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
National Cancer Institute Types of cancer, statistics, clinical trials
Affordable Care Act
Healthcare.gov Health insurance marketplace, affordable care act
GetCoveredIllinois.gov Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace
Effingham County Health Department – Call 217-342-9237 to make an in-person counseling appointment for assistance with the application process.
IRS.gov Affordable Care Act tax provisions
U.S. Department of Labor Patient protection and the ACA
Medicaid.gov ACA and Medicaid
Healthbill Details Detailed summary about the ACA
U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources ACA and HRSA programs
AARP ACA health law fact sheets
Radio
The X Radio-Premier Broadcasting Effingham stations 97.9 and 102.3 FM
Talk Radio AM 1090 Effingham news talk
95.7 FM All American Country Effingham country music station
Radio-Locator Links to over 10,000 radio station web pages and audio streaming
National Public Radio Radio station finder
Pandora Free internet radio
Lyrics and Songs
Am I Right Misheard lyrics
Billboard Music charts, news & videos
Who does that song Searchable database of songs
E-lyrics One of the largest song lyrics destinations online
Effingham Daily News The local Effingham paper
Teutopolis Press The local T-town paper
The Altamont News The local Altamont paper
NewsWealth.com Online newspapers, magazines, tabloids, blogs and more
Fox News Current news and video
BBC News World and international news
CNN Breaking news on the latest top stories
Reuters Business & Financial News
Today’s Front Pages 802 Front pages from 85 countries
Grant Writing
Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation Connects donors to those needing funding
Lumpkin Family Foundation Provides grants to meritorious nonprofit organizations
GoodWorksConnect Online community connecting nonprofits in East Central Illinois
Data Gathering
Illinois Interactive Report Card Test results and other accountability information
Nutrition and Wellness Programs Free and Reduced-Priced Meal Eligibility
Illinois State Board of Education Data Analysis and Accountability
National Center for Educational Statistics Data related to education in the U.S.
U.S. Census Bureau Statistical information form the U.S. Department of Commerce
FedStats Statistics from more than 100 government agencies
Kids Count National, county, school district and city data from across the country
CyberDriveIllinois Illinois Trademark Applications
United States Copyright Office News, forms and laws relating to copyrights
Copyright Website Copyright of digital materials
University of Maryland University College Copyright in the classroom & internet
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patents, trademarks, intellectual property
SumoBrain Search major world patent collections
Phone Numbers and Addresses
411.com Free directory assistance
Yellowbook.com Business, people search, coupons, reverse lookup
Yellowpages.com Yellow pages online
Reverse Phone Directory Reverse phone directory
Zip Codes
USPS Zip Codes Look up a ZIP code
United States ZIP Codes Maps of area codes & search by address, city or county
Flickr Photo management and sharing
Shutterfly Create photo books, photo cards and stationary, share photos with friends
Photobucket Offers image hosting, free photo sharing and video sharing
Snapfish Create customized digital prints and gifts using your favorite photos
Digital Librarian A librarian’s choice of the best of the web
Google Images Find images through the Google search engine
Yahoo Images Find images through the Yahoo search engine
Microsoft Clip Art Clip art, photos, and animations
Scholarly Journal Articles & Magazines
Directory of Open Access Journals Full text journal articles
Old Magazine Articles Online library of magazine articles
Google Scholar Scholarly literature in books, abstracts and articles
Futurity Research from universities published in scholarly journals
Searching the internet for resources
Reference, Facts, News Indexes/reviews quality, credible & current web-based resources
Internet Public Library Subject-categorized directory of authoritative websites
Library of Congress Research LOC collections and research tools
Virtual Chase Checklist and examples of websites that demonstrate good/bad qualities
Valparaiso University Criteria and links to other sites that evaluate web resources
Multnomah County Library How to evaluation the information given on websites
Internet search tips Top 10 internet search tips
Encyclopedia, Dictionary and Thesaurus
Encyclopedia.com Over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries
How Stuff Works Thousands of topics, from engines to lock-picking to ESP
Yahoo Reference Encyclopedia, dictionary, thesaurus, Spanish dictionary
Wikipedia The free encyclopedia that anyone can edit
InfoPlease Encyclopedia, atlas, dictionary and thesaurus facts & stats
Dictionary.com World’s most popular free online dictionary
YourDictionary.com Easy to understand dictionary with example sentences
Diccionarios Translation between Spanish and many other languages
Lexicool Online bilingual and multilingual dictionaries
Google Translate Translate text, webpages and documents
Pub Chem Compounds, Substances, and BioAssays
Encyclopedia of Life Information and pictures of all species known
Science Books Online Free science ebooks, textbooks, lecture notes
National Geographic Articles and features about animals and the environment
NASA Solar system, weather, space and more from America’s space agency
Geology.com Geology news and information
National Ocean Service Ecology info from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Info on air, climate changes, ecosystems, water
NASA weather laboratory Cool facts and fun games about the science – for kids
Coupons, Discounts, and Deals
Coupon Cravings Coupons, freebies, and shopping deals
Price Grabber Price comparison, reviews, ratings & merchant coupons
Slick Deals Coupons and discounts on laptops, TVs, and other gadgets
Retail Me Not Coupon codes, promo codes and discounts for online stores
Woot Deal of the day
Unique Shopping
Etsy Handmade and vintage items available from artisans
Hatch Made-to-order custom gifts
Mark & Graham Accessories & home goods that can be personalized
Oompa Top quality wooden toys
Zappos Shoes and clothes available with free shipping both ways