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Consumer Information

Small Business Resources

Are you an entrepreneur or need help with your small business? Find tools for your business plan, licenses, marketing, and more.

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Online Resources

You will need your Rolling Meadows Library card to access many of our online resources if you are not using them in the Library. Need help? Stop by or call the Reference Desk at 847-259-6050 x130.

See every online resource the Library has to offer on the A–Z Online Resources page.

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America's News: Consumer Issues

Use from home Library Card Required  Current and archived full-text articles from news sources nationwide. Browse topics like buying power, consumer awareness, inflated prices, and more.

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Business Source Premier

Use from home Library Card Required  Thousands of articles from leading business publications. Search for topics like consumer behavior, consumer protection, credit ratings, online shopping, and more.

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Consumer Reports

Use from home Library Card Required  An online version of the magazine. Search to find specific articles and product reviews on purchases like cars, appliances, electronics, and more.

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Consumers' Checkbook

Use from home Library Card Required  Ratings on Chicago-area service providers, such as auto repair shops, plumbers, dentists, banks, and insurance companies.

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Illinois Public Record

Use from home Library Card Required  Database of public records including real estate transfers, new businesses, bankruptcies, and foreclosures. Perform basic background checks on individuals and businesses based in Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.

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MedlinePlus

Use from home Library Card Required  Learn about dietary supplements, herbal remidies, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medicines. Includes side effects, dosage, special precautions, and drug interactions.

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Newspaper Source Plus

Use from home Library Card Required  Cover-to-cover full text for hundreds of national, international and regional newspapers. Search for articles about consumer refunds, identity theft, recall alerts, telemarketing fraud and more.

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Points of View Reference Center

Use from home Library Card Required  A balance of materials from all viewpoints about controversial issuses including topics like big box retailers, imported product safety, auto recalls, fast fashion, and more.

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Reference Solutions

Use from home Library Card Required  The leading source for business and residential data. New or prospective homeowners can research neighborhoods, including home values and median income, as well as locate nearby schools, churches, doctors, childcare facilities and more.

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Weiss Financial Ratings

Use from home Library Card Required  Plan for your future with guidance toward your financial goals. Find easy to understand guides about issues like buying a house and identity theft protection. Also includes the Medigap Insurance Tool for insurance planning.

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Catalog Spotlight

To browse books on consumer education, economics, and buying guides in the library, ask for help at the Adult Reference Desk.

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
The New Frugality by Chris Farrell Gas Smarts by Ronald Weiers

Digital Magazines

Find magazines in the library in Adult Reference. Or search the online catalog External Link to browse and place holds on magazines. 

Flipster Magazines

Consumer Reports
Midwest Living The Week

Preview HOopla Magazines

Prevention
Popular Mechanics Reader's Digest

Digital Library of IL Magazines

WIRED
Car and Driver Adweek

Educational & How-To Videos

Find more online training, videos and tutorials on the online learning page.

Curiosity Stream

Economics Explained
Crash Course: Intellectual Property Crash Course: Economics

Website Links

Better Business Bureau External Link
Find objective, unbiased, and free information on businesses in Chicago and Northern Illinois.

Business Entity Search External Link
The Department of Business Services database of business entities. Search for a Corporation, Not-for-Profit, LLC, etc. to view detailed reports.

Citizens Utility Board External Link
Find tips on how to lower utility bills, avoid scams, and more info about utilities.

Consumer Advice External Link
From the Federal Trade Commission, report fraud, report identity theft, get free credit reports, and get the latest consumer advice.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau External Link
Guides to help you understand and plan for big financial goals including buying a house, getting an auto loan, and paying for college.

Consumer Price Index External Link
A measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Consumer Product Information Database External Link
Use the database to identify chemicals in products, determine the health effects of product formulations, avoid brands with ingredients you’re sensitive to, and view safety data sheets.

Consumer Product Safety Commission External Link
The official government website of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Read safety education materials, search for recalls, and download product-related incidents.

Consumer Search External Link
Online reviews focused on what real reviewers loved, hated and found most useful about each product.

Food & Drug Administration External Link
Find recalls, market withdrawals & safety alerts.

IdentityTheft.gov External Link
Report identity theft and get a recovery plan with help from the Federal Trade Commision.

Illinois Consumer Protection External Link
The Attorney General’s Office takes consumer complaints and can engage in informal dispute resolution on behalf of consumers having problems.

Professional License Lookup External Link
Look up your doctor, accountant, chiropractor, therapist, home inspector and more. You can find information on their status and if they have been disciplined by the state.

Recycling & Hazardous Waste Disposal External Link
Search for nearby facilities for electronics disposal, document destruction, chemical disposal, and more from the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County.

Past Virtual Events

Watch all recorded events on the RML YouTube Channel External Link

Brownie Wise: the original tupperware lady
Leslie Goddard portrays saleswoman Brownie Wise, who made Tupperware a household name in the 1950s.

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Consumer Protection
A representative from the Illinois Office of the Attorney General will advise consumers and businesses that have been victimized by fraud, deception or unfair competition.

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