Electronic Libraries During COVID-19

March 30, 2020

With libraries closing their doors due to COVID-19, their physical collections are suddenly unavailable. Luckily, libraries still have items available electronically. Each library system is different in what it offers, so be sure to go to your local library’s website and see what they have available. Some even offer free streaming music and movies in addition to eBooks and audio books. However, here are some free eBooks you can access via the internet without needing a library card.

Ebooks Minnesota is an online ebook collection for all Minnesotans. The collection covers a wide variety of subjects for readers of all ages, and features content from our state’s independent publishers, including some of our best literature and nonfiction.

Goodreads has a list of free ebooks so you can see the ones with the best reviews, then locate them online via a search engine.

International Children’s Digital Library is a collection of children’s books (including picture books) that strives to represent outstanding historical and contemporary books from throughout the world in various languages.

Open Library is an online project intended to create “one web page for every book ever published”. It provides online access to many public domain and out-of-print books.

Project Gutenberg is a library of over 60,000 free, public domain eBooks.