Reference Services

Reference Services: Our Reference Service, staffed by trained Librarians, is centralized from our Onalaska Library location to answer questions and assist users in finding materials to meet their needs and interests. Some of the services provided include:

Reference Assistance

Personal, professional assistance by trained librarians is available to help you. Librarians are on duty at our Onalaska location to assist you in person, by telephone, or by email.

Reference Desk:
phone: (608) 781-9568, opt 2
email: [email protected]

Interlibrary Loan

This service is provided for materials not available within the County Libraries. The service is free and available at all five locations. Books, articles from magazines, and other materials that the County Library does not own may be requested. There is a limit of five requests per person per week.

Other Resources

Here is a curated list of online resources you may find helpful.

• Bigcharts Look up stock histories by day without paying a fee

• Cost of auto insurance calculator Car insurance calculator without the sales pitch

• Cost of home insurance calculator Learn what you should be paying for homeowners insurance in your state

• Cost of living calculator Compare salary, rent, transportation costs, etc. of up to 4 cities

• Farmer's Markets and Food & Farm Businesses Wisconsin Farmers’ Markets and Wisconsin Food & Farm businesses

• Federal Student Aid Free application for Federal student aid

• Free Credit Report One free credit report per year

• Kelley Blue Book Check the Kelley Blue Book value of a car

• Reference Solutions The premier source of information for reference and research

• Driving Tests Access free practice DMV driving tests for car, motorcycle, and commercial driver's license, plus three online driver's manuals and an FAQ section

• Homeschooling Wisconsin Parents Association - Homeschooling resource for parents


• How Stuff Works Explains thousands of topics, ranging from the flu to black holes to conspiracy theories, with video and illustrations so you can learn how everything works

• Learn a Language Learn a language on-line for free! Hundreds of free lessons for 8 different languages! Learn Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese and English

• Learn the Net Learn how to use the Internet effectively

• Transparent Language Online Available for learning 110+ languages, plus English (ESL) materials for native speakers of 30+ languages 

• Blue Books - Wisconsin Access the primary one-volume reference source about our State

• Job Center of Wisconsin

• National Do Not Call List Registration is effective for 5 years. It will be illegal for most telemarketers to call you, and you will be able to file a complaint if a telemarketer does call you. The website https://www.donotcall.gov provides information about filing a complaint

• "No Call" Wisconsin Put your name on the Wisconsin "No Call" list for telemarketers

• Passports U.S. State Department

• Wisconsin, State of State of Wisconsin's Web site

• Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Links to job centers, state agencies and child care, interpreters and support programs

• Wisconsin Jobs The official announcement site for all State of Wisconsin classified civil service jobs

• Gundersen/Lutheran Health Information on drugs and diseases

• Go Ask Alice Columbia University Health Question & Answer Service

• Hmong Health (Bilingual) Lub hom phiaj ntawm website kev sib txuas no yog kev pab rau cov haiv neeg Hmoob qhia txog kabmob kev nkeeg. Cov lag num nos tau kev pab los ntawm. National Library of Medicine (NLM). Access to health information for Hmong people and those who provide health, education and social services to the Hmong community

• Mayo Health Information on drugs and diseases

• Medline Plus National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, other government sources including medical dictionary and medical encyclopedia

• Netwellness Non-profit consumer health site in operation for over 10 years. High quality information created and evaluated by medical and health professional faculty at: Case Western Reserve University, Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati

• Badgerlink Magazine and newspaper articles and a world of information

• International Children's Digital Library Children's books to read on the screen. Instructions available in several different languages

• La Crosse History A joint effort between LPL and Murphy Library (UW-L). You'll find it very useful for local history questions

• La Crosse Public Library La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main St, La Crosse

• Library of Congress Historic maps, photos of America in all its wondrous color, documents both current and historical, and much, much more

• NoveList Plus Database of book recommendations. Use it to find books in your favorite genre, read-alikes, and series information.

• Telephone directory Look up people & business numbers

• WISCAT WISCAT (Wisconsin State Library Catalog)

• Wisconsin Digital Library (Libby) Downloadable ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and videos. Hundreds of titles you can download to your computer or to a portable device

• Creative Bug Access to more than 1,000 online art and craft classes

• E-how More than 15,000 How-To solutions

• Hoopla Borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics and TV shows to enjoy on your computer, tablet, or phone – and even your TV! 

• National Zoo Good animal information, terrific pictures, some web cams

• ReadyWisconsin Emergency preparedness