After a 72 year waiting period, the personal records from the 1950 Census will be made available online to researchers by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) on April 1, 2022. The records will also be available at the major genealogy online resources including Ancestry.com, Family Search, and My Heritage. The National Archives' 1950…
News from the Research Desk - Page 4 of 16

DIY Research: Sources for Statistics
Whether you are writing a research paper or trying to better understand the news headlines, you may find yourself looking for statistical information on the internet. Not to be confused with “data,” statistics are the analysis and interpretation of numerical data. Whether you are looking for data and statistics, it is important to keep in mind…

DIY Research: Health Information
As anyone who has ever googled their symptoms can tell you, there is no shortage of medical information available on the internet. However, good sources with clear, authoritative information can be difficult to find among the search results. As with all information found online, medical information should be approached with a critical eye. The Research Desk…

DIY Research: Government Sources
Looking for answers to complicated questions on Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo can lead to limited results and incomplete information. With complex research questions, finding authoritative, reliable sources is key. That means thinking about life beyond Google and getting creative with search strategies. The library is here to help with research, and there are many helpful sites available on the web that can…

Local resources for job seekers
Between networking, skills development, applying and interviewing, looking for a job or changing careers can be a full-time job. In addition to the resources available from the library, support for job seekers is available from several local organizations: North Suburban Cook County American Job Center - Webinars, job fairs, networking and volunteer opportunities are available to job seekers. This location is…

Who Can Get a Booster Shot?
There has been a lot of information in the media concerning the COVID vaccine booster shot. It can be difficult to get a clear picture of who is eligible and what kind of shot is available. Based on the information from the CDC, Walgreens recently posted a short list of answers to these important questions. …

Writing a resume with help from library resources
Changes in the labor market mean that many people are looking for a new job or transitioning to a new industry. Getting started with writing a new resume can be overwhelming, and MPPL cardholders have access to some helpful online resources to support resume and cover letter writing: Brainfuse JobNow – JobNow provides users with help in every step of the…

Appointment required for some DMV services
Many services at local DMV’s, including Des Plaines and Schaumburg, now require an advance appointment. In order to cope with COVID-19 backlogs, the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office announced procedure changes for some services. At some facilities, make an appointment in advance for:*Behind-the-wheel road tests*Applying for or renewing REAL IDs*Applying for standard Driver's License/Identification Card. For some services, a visit to…

Free DMV Permit Practice Tests
You can take free permit driving tests for car or motorcycle through our web resources page with our new site, Driving Test Prep. These are multiple choice questions and you can see the results immediately. Also available are practice tests for the CDL (commercial driver's licence). This is an excellent resource for new drivers but…

Helpful websites for renters facing eviction
Here are some resources for renters that are affected by the recent expiration of the eviction moratorium: Eviction Help Illinois is a new program that offers free legal help for Illinois residents facing potential eviction and landlords not represented by a lawyer. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Look-Up Tool: This tool connects people with local programs that may…