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Learn From Home: Free Online Libraries

April 14, 2020

Escape the mundane with extraordinary literature from around the world: discover incredible collections of free books online. At a time when many feel isolated and lonely, it’s good to remind ourselves that books bring us together. Stories have always offered an amazing way to escape and an unbeatable chance to engage our minds. If you’re feeling down, turn to a good book and let it do its magic. But where to find them?

Project Gutenberg

The oldest digital library in the world has been with us for almost four decades. It consists of over 60,000 ebooks of public domain. This means you can enjoy some of the world-renowned works from Edgar Allan Poe, Jane Austen, Lewis Caroll, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Agatha Christie, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky and many more. If you’re unsure where to start reading, we recommend browsing through their top 100 lists.

Audible: Stories

Audible is the proud owner of the world's largest selection of audiobooks. Now they’re putting their best foot forward and offering hundreds of audiobooks completely free - no registration, no accounts, no passwords. This collection is curated for children and teenagers. But even if you don’t have kids of your own, children’s literature provides some of the most exceptional experiences for all age groups.

Scribd

Once the world’s first open publishing platform, today Scribd is the world’s largest digital library. It hosts a lot more than just ebooks. Over the years it expanded its collection to include audiobooks, sheet music, magazines, articles and even research documents. Nowadays they’re offering unlimited books, audiobooks, magazines and news for free for 30 days. Why not try it out if you’re stuck at home? You might find yourself lost in the magical realm of reading.

Other sources

LibriVox offers free public domain audiobooks read by volunteers from around the world. ManyBooks has over 50,000 free ebooks - well worth exploring! Apple Books created a “Stay at home” collection of free read alongs for kids. Celebrities are lending their voices to the #SaveWithStories initiative, which raises funds for kids who don’t have meals while schools are closed. To listen to Amy Adams, Natalie Portman or Jennifer Garner search #savewithstories on Instagram or Twitter. https://twitter.com/JLD_daily/status/1248693223368863744 Above all, don’t forget about your local public library and independent bookstores in your area! Many public libraries are open online and full of great deals. A lot of bookstores are offering free delivery. Supporting small bookstores means supporting the local economy and the entire literary world. That’s right - be a hero, save the (literary) world! https://twitter.com/angiecthomas/status/1241491603459538944