Open Library: Borrow Ebooks Free from the Internet Archive, No Library Card
Open Library is a free online library run by the nonprofit Internet Archive. Make a free account and you can read public domain books outright and borrow many newer ones, right in your web browser.
“A library that is open at 3 a.m., never shushes you, and does not care that you lost your card in 1987? Class, I may need a moment.”
What is Open Library?
Open Library is a project of the Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its big dream is a web page for every book ever published. Some of those pages just show information about a book, but many let you actually read it.
There are two kinds of free reading. Public domain and other freely available books can be read online or downloaded with no strings. Many newer books can be borrowed, one reader at a time, just like a paper library book. You do not need a library card from your town, only a free Open Library account.
Why I assign it to my students
- No card, no fines. Loans simply expire on their own. No late fees, ever.
- Works in your browser. The built-in BookReader runs on almost any device with no extra software.
- Newer titles than you might expect. Not just old classics, though availability varies by book.
- Nonprofit. No ads to dodge and nobody trying to upsell you a membership.
How to use it, step by step
- Create a free account. You need a username, password, and email address, and you will verify the email.
- Search for a book. To see only books you can read, check the box to show only ebooks.
- Read or borrow. Free books open right away. For lending books, you may see a one-hour browse option, and some titles can be borrowed for 14 days.
- Join a waitlist if needed. If someone has the book, add yourself to the list. When it comes back, you get an email and 24 hours to check it out.
- Read in the browser, or download. Borrowed PDF and EPUB downloads require Adobe Digital Editions or a compatible app, plus an Adobe ID. The browser reader needs nothing extra.
Professor Ima’s quick tips
- You can have up to ten books checked out at once. Do not be greedy, but do be ambitious.
- Use the browser reader on a tablet for the simplest experience.
- Make a reading list in your account so you can find books again later.
- Pair it with Project Gutenberg and LibriVox for a complete free library: one to borrow, one to keep, one to listen.
Who it’s great for
- College students: Look up older textbooks, reference books, and assigned titles before you buy. The one-hour browse is handy for checking a quote.
- Young families: Picture books and children’s classics you can read together on a tablet at bedtime.
- Working adults: Borrow a how-to or self-help book on a lunch break without leaving your desk.
- Retirees: Great for those who no longer drive to the library or live far from one. Zoom the page for larger print.
Things to watch for
- Kindle limits. Kindle cannot be used for borrowed lending books. Open Library says US Kindle owners can use Send to Kindle for some freely available books.
- Scanned pages. Many books are scans of printed copies, so they look like real pages rather than reflowing text.
- Waits. Popular titles can have waitlists, and not every book is available to borrow.
- Restricted titles. Some books with a lock icon are only for readers with qualifying print disabilities.
- Outside the US? Public domain rules differ by country.
Frequently asked questions
Is Open Library really free?
Yes. Borrowing and reading are free. You just need a free account.
Do I need a library card?
No. Unlike Libby or Hoopla, Open Library does not ask for a card from your local library.
How long can I keep a book?
Browsing loans last one hour. Some books can be borrowed for 14 days. Loans end automatically.
Do I have to install anything?
No, if you read in the browser. Downloading borrowed books needs Adobe Digital Editions or a compatible app.
Professor Ima B. Cheap
Lending rules, availability, and features change over time. Cheap101 is not affiliated with Open Library or the Internet Archive. More handouts: Cheap101 Class Handouts · Free samples, freebies and rebates