Earlier this week, the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian, Alexi Giannoulias, announced the launch of a free statewide digital library package, granting all Illinois residents unprecedented access to a massive collection of online resources. This new program provides free access to premium e-books, academic journals, magazines, and newspapers to all Illinois residents. The new statewide e-resource package offers comprehensive materials for every age group, including:

• Educational & Literacy Support: Extensive EBSCO eBook collections tailored for K-5, middle school, and high school students, alongside the ERIC Education Resources Information Center for educators.

• Scholarly & Professional Research: Access to Academic Search Elite and Business Source Elite, providing peer-reviewed journals, management publications, and multi-disciplinary scholarly research.

• Specialized Practical Tools: Everyday utilities like Auto Repair Source for domestic and imported vehicle repair estimates, Alt HealthWatch for wellness resources, and AGRICOLA for comprehensive agricultural data.

• Public Library Collections: Thousands of e-books covering general reference, self-help, fitness, hobbies, and more than 390,000 narrative biographies.

Illinois residents interested in accessing the new resources should contact their local library or access them online at: https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/library/iris.html