For the best reading experience on your computer, begin with the free download of Adobe Digital Editions. It allows you to create a bookmark, change the font size, and search for individual words or phrases within a book.

Project Gutenberg is perhaps the most well-known of all the public domain sites. Created in 1971 by Michael Hart, the mission statement is simple: to encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks. The collection is available for free because the vast majority of books were published before 1923 and are no longer restricted by copyright laws. To ensure that every reproduction is of the highest quality, each book is digitized and then proofread by two independent readers.

With a library of over 33,000 digitized books, you are sure to find something that will pique your interest. Just like a traditional library catalog, you can search by author, title and subject, but it doesn't end there. If you want to see what everyone else is reading, click on Quick Picks Popular and peruse the list of the most frequently downloaded titles.  The Gutenberg bookshelves are conveniently sorted by genre, including both the traditional (such as mystery, science fiction, and philosophy) but also the more subjective (Best Books Ever). Should the Gutenberg list prove to be a good indicator, we will soon be a country of Huck Finn eBook experts.  

For mobile users, if you have a QR scanner, go directly to Project Gutenberg, select your title, then click on the tab labeled QR Code. Scan the code and the book will be automatically downloaded to your device!

The Google eBookstore offers a tremendous selection of books, everything you want in a bookstore at your fingertips. But did you know that they also have  a selection of  "the best of the free"? Presented in a beautiful layout with bookcovers and easy-to-read titles, browsing has never been more enjoyable.  It is similar to the Gutenberg Project in that it too takes advantage of materials no longer restricted by copyright, however there are may aspects that make it a more enjoyable experience. In typical Google fashion, the options are many and the process of downloading a book is nearly intuitive. No only are there options to change font size and typestyle, you can also change from "flowing text" to a view of the actual scanned copy. You can have the visual look and the feel of a classic, without fear of harming the original. Do you have an opinion about what you are reading that you would like to share? Write a review and share it with others who have read the same digital version. Looking for something to read next? Google offers a list of related titles that might interest you. The best part of all? Whatever you download is yours to keep-- for free!

For assistance selecting a free eBook, please contact us.