Reference Websites

Reference Websites

These sites are free to use and do not require your Fox Lake District library card. All links are presented in alphabetical order. External links may be used as starting points in your research and are not intended to be exhaustive lists of all available external sites related to these topics. The library does not endorse or profit from these websites and external links are provided for use at your own discretion.

If you need further assistance or encounter a broken link, please contact the Adult Reference Desk at 847-587-0198 or here.

Adult Learning & ESL
 
Community Resources
Consumer Information
 
Elections & Voting
  • Factcheck.org
    • A nonpartisan, nonprofit resource for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. They monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases.
  • Federal Voter Assistance Program
    • Federal voting assistance for service members, their families, and overseas citizens. Provides access to election officials and voting assistance officers to help navigate the absentee voting process.
  • Illinois Online Voter Registration
  • Lake County Voter Information
    • Voting FAQs
  • Lake County Voter Power
    • View a copy of your ballot, list of districts, polling place, and a copy of your voter registration card by providing some basic information (i.e. name, date of birth, etc.)
  • Lake County Voting Options
    • Information on voting in person on election day, early, or by mail.
  • McHenry County Polling Locations
  • Registration & Polling Place Lookup
    • Verify that you are registered to vote, as well as check your polling location, and see what districts you are eligible to vote for.
  • Special Voter Circumstances
    • Useful information on how to vote in a variety of circumstances including from a hospital and nursing home
  • Vote Smart
    • A non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office.
Environment & Recycling
 
Genealogy
Health & Mental Health Resources
  • Family Health Partnership Clinic
    • The clinic, based in Crystal Lake, ensures that the residents of the McHenry County area will enjoy the benefit of full access to high quality health care, regardless of the ability to pay. The Clinic operates on a sliding fee scale, although no patient is turned away due to inability to pay. At registration, patients will be asked to provide some proof of income. NOTE: Because all of the doctors and some of the nurses volunteer their time, hours when patients can be seen is limited. Appointments are necessary. Call the Clinic main phone number at 779.220.9300 to schedule an appointment.
  • GetCoveredIllinois
    • Illinois's official health insurance marketplace
  • Illinois Health Matters
    • Information on healthcare reform and the Illinois Marketplace.
  • Lake County Behavioral Health Services Office
    • Offers programs that can help with mental health and substance abuse challenges
  • Lake County Mental Health Resources
  • McHenry County Health Department
  • McHenry County Mental Health Resources
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
    • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1-800-273-8255 or chat online.
 
Health Information
Housing & Food Support
 
Jobs and Employment
Law & Legal Information
 
Local History
Resources for the Vision Impaired
  • Bookshare
    • Bookshare® is an online library of digital books for people with print disabilities. It operates under an exception to U.S. copyright law which allows copyrighted digital books to be made available to people with qualifying disabilities.
  • Chicago Lighthouse
    • The Chicago Lighthouse is a not-for-profit agency committed to providing the highest quality educational, clinical, vocational and rehabilitation services for children, youth and adults who are blind or visually impaired, including deaf-blind and multi-disabled.
  • Illinois Talking Book and Braille Service
    • TBBS supports the activities of the Illinois Network of Libraries Serving the Blind and Physically Handicapped. The network includes a regional center at the State Library, three library sites throughout the state known as Talking Book Centers, and an Illinois Machine Lending Agency. Collectively, all of these centers circulate unabridged books in audio format.
 
Senior Resources
  • AARP Illinois
  • AARP Safe Driver Course Locator
    • The Library periodically offers this course. Check our website or with the Adult Reference Desk for more information.
  • Benefits Checkup - National Council on Aging
    • Find out if there are any benefit programs you are missing out on!
  • Caring.com Assisted Living in Illinois
    • Directory and reviews of assisted living facilities in Illinois
  • Illinois Aging Services
    • A non-profit organization of professionals in the field of Aging Services. Their purpose is to assess the needs of older adults and their caregivers, assure access to needed services and offer education to service providers.
  • Illinois Department on Aging
    • Helps older adults live independently in their own homes and communities
  • License Plate Discount
    • The Secretary of State's office sends eligible seniors a notification after they are accepted into the Illinois Department on Aging's program. When you buy license plates or renew your license plate sticker, you must submit the notification to verify that you are qualified for the discount. If you have already renewed your license plate sticker and paid full price, and are now part of the Benefit Access Program, you may be eligible for a refund. Call the Secretary of State's Office at 800-252-8980 for more information.
  • Mather Telephone Topics
    • With Telephone Topics, you simply call a toll-free number to listen to a wide range of interesting discussions and programs. From wellness to education to music!
  • McHenry County Senior Services
  • McHenry Township Senior Center
  • Medicare.gov
  • Medicare.gov Nursing Home Compare
    • Detailed information about every Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country
  • Northeastern Illinois Agency on Aging
  • Pass It On
    • Chances are good that someone you know has been scammed. They may not talk about it, but the statistics do. The truth is that sharing what you know can help protect someone who you know from a scam.
  • Ride Free Transit Benefit
  • Senior Care Volunteer Network
    • Their mission is to help seniors living in McHenry County and Sun City Huntley maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life by remaining in their own homes or the home of a loved one for as long as possible.
  • SeniorLiving.org
    • Provides blood pressure screening, health screenings, & exercise classes.
Tax Forms and Information