Research & Learn: Language & Culture

Get access to subscription-based resources that Google can’t offer

Your Oak Park Public Library card and PIN give you access to the online resources listed here. Have questions? Get answers to FAQs, watch how-to videos, read about your data privacy, and contact us.

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Need to search multiple resources at once? Use the catalog's Article Search to find full-text results.



 

African-American History

A fresh way to explore the full spectrum of African-American history and culture, covering five centuries.


American Indian History

Fast access to more than 15,000 years of culture and history, covering more than 600 Native American groups.


American Sign Language

Become conversationally fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) through videos, simulated role-play, and instant expressive skills feedback. Offered through ASL Inside and accessible through Mango Languages.


AtoZ Maps Online

Comprehensive collection of royalty-free downloadable maps.


AtoZ World Culture

Information about world history, cultures, languages, foods, religions, and more.


CultureGrams

Cultural information on the countries of the world, includes a States Edition with U.S. state facts.


Ethnic Diversity Source

Full-text database dedicated to resources covering the culture, traditions, social treatment, and lived experiences of different ethnic groups in America.


Little Pim

Language learning program designed to teach kids 0-6 a new language through videos, games, and songs. Choose from 12 languages—Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Little Pim is accessible through Mango Languages, either on the website or app.

To access Little Pim on the Mango website and on the Mango app, find Little Pim under the Explore tab of each available language. On the Mango app, the Explore tab is located at the bottom of the screen (scroll to the right in the bottom menu bar, if needed). Get step-by-step instructions on how to access.


Mango Languages

Reach conversational proficiency in more than 70 languages—including American Sign Language and learning English in more than 20 different native languages—good for beginners and tourists. (Also available: Little Pim, a language learning program for ages 0-6.)

  • Get step-by-step instructions on how to set up an account: .
  • Free app available for Apple iOS and Android.

Read It!

Research tool for English language learners—middle and high school students and adults—with nonfiction articles and reference texts about a variety of topics, vocabulary practice, reading comprehension quizzes, research guides, articles read aloud, and more.


So Banco de Contenidos aulaPlaneta (access from inside any Oak Park library building or anywhere outside the library)

Colección de más de 170.000 artículos, imágenes y vídeos diseñados para investigadores nativos de habla hispana y estudiantes avanzados bilingües y de ESL.

Collection of 170,000+ articles, images, and videos designed for native Spanish-speaking researchers and advanced bilingual and ESL students.


World Book (access from inside any Oak Park library building or anywhere outside the library)

Explore World Book’s engaging content for learners of all ages, all in one place:

  • Advanced (grades 9+): Reference tool with full encyclopedic and multimedia databases supplemented with online books, primary sources, website links, Back in Time articles, special reports, and more.
  • Discover (grades 5+): Easy-to-read articles with a text-to-speech feature.
  • Early Learning (grades preK+): Narrated stories, games, videos, and reading practice.
  • eBooks (all ages): Collection of exclusive, illustrated ebooks for kids, sorted by grade level with Lexile Level and Accelerated Reader information.
  • Kids (grades K+): Easy-to-read articles with engaging images, illustrations, interactive games, and activities.
  • So Banco de Contenidos aulaPlaneta (grades 5+): Collection of 170,000+ articles, images, and videos designed for native Spanish-speaking researchers and advanced bilingual and ESL students.
  • Student (grades 5+): Online version of World Book, including encyclopedia articles, resource guides, citation builder, interactive maps, and study quizzes.
  • Timelines (grades 5+): Use one of the pre-generated timelines or create a timeline from scratch, adding events, descriptions, and media.