Project Gutenberg was founded in 1971 by none other than the inventor of electronic book (e-book), Michael S. Hart. It is the oldest digital library and has over 45,000 free e-books to date.
Access: Open access; no registration required
Available formats: HTML, ePub, MOBI (Kindle), plain text
Open Library is an open, editable library catalog that offers over 1,000,000 free e-book titles. Most books available are classic literature titles.
Access: Open access; registration optional
Available formats: PDF, plain text, DAISY, ePub, MOBI (Kindle)
Every story deserves to be read. Writing Atlas is where remarkable short fiction finds its readers. This website is building a vibrant, human-curated index that celebrates the art of short stories and connects passionate writers with eager readers.
If you're into comic books, then Comic Book Plus is the perfect free e-book site for you. Comic Book Plus is dedicated to the free and legal access to hundreds of Golden and Silver Age comic books. Access: Open access for web viewing; registration required for comic book downloads in cbz file format.
Are you more of an auditory learner? LibriVox offers free access to thousands of audiobooks ranging from children's fiction to self-help books.
Access: Open access; no registration required
Available format: mp3
Open Cultures is a blog that curates cultural and educational materials available on the web. Among its curated lists are over 500 audiobooks, 600 free e-books, and 170 textbooks.
Access: Open access; no registration required
Available formats: HTML, ePub, MOBI (Kindle), plain text
Loyal Books offers thousands of free public domain e-books and audiobooks. Books from over 30 languages can also be accessed here.
Access: Open access: no registration required
Available formats: audiobook – mp3, mb4, e-book – ePub, PDB, MOBI (Kindle), plain text
Aside from the classics, this site is ideal for discovering indie authors ranging from non-fiction to romance and mystery.
Access: Free account – limited access, VIP account (with membership fee) – full library access
Available formats: PDF, ePub, MOBI (Kindle), plain text
