Free educational websites for librarians 2025

Websites for free legal books

50+ Websites to Download Free Books Legally

Looking for free books? Many websites offer legal downloads of books across genres, including classic literature, academic textbooks, research materials, and even audiobooks. Below is a list of 50+ trusted sites where you can access books legally.

1. Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg offers over 60,000 free ebooks, including classic literature and public domain books.

2. Open Library

Open Library provides access to millions of free books, including out-of-print and contemporary titles.

3. Google Books

Google Books allows you to read and download many classic books for free.

4. Internet Archive

Internet Archive has millions of free books, historical texts, and scanned library books.

5. ManyBooks

ManyBooks offers thousands of free eBooks in various formats.

6. Librivox

Librivox provides free audiobooks recorded by volunteers.

7. Standard Ebooks

Standard Ebooks offers high-quality, proofread, and properly formatted classic books.

8. Free eBooks

Free eBooks provides free books in different genres after registration.

9. BookBoon

BookBoon specializes in free educational books, including business and academic materials.

10. Wikisource

Wikisource is an online library of free historical and literary texts.

11. Feedbooks

Feedbooks offers free public domain books and original indie works.

12. Smashwords

Smashwords has thousands of free indie books in multiple genres.

13. Baen Free Library

Baen Free Library offers free sci-fi and fantasy books from Baen Publishing.

14. HathiTrust Digital Library

HathiTrust provides millions of free books, especially for academic research.

15. The Online Books Page

The Online Books Page offers access to over 2 million free books curated by the University of Pennsylvania.

16. Read Print

Read Print is a free online library of classic books and poetry.

17. Bookrix

Bookrix provides self-published and indie books for free.

18. International Children's Digital Library

ICDL offers free children’s books from around the world.

19. Wikibooks

Wikibooks is a free open-content collection of textbooks and learning materials.

20. PDF Drive

PDF Drive hosts millions of free books in PDF format.

21. Open Culture

Open Culture curates free books, courses, and audiobooks.

22. Sacred Texts

Sacred Texts provides access to free books on religion, mythology, and folklore.

23. NASA eBooks

NASA eBooks offers free space-related books.

24. Free Computer Books

Free Computer Books specializes in IT, programming, and computer science books.

25. Open Textbook Library

Open Textbook Library offers free textbooks for students.

26. The Literature Network

The Literature Network provides free classic literature and study guides.

27. Digital Public Library of America

DPLA connects readers to free resources from libraries across the U.S.

28. Saylor Academy

Saylor Academy provides free online courses with free textbooks.

29. Free Tech Books

Free Tech Books provides technical and engineering books.

More

Other sources include:

• Ibiblio
• Loyal Books
• MetPublications
• BookYards

Conclusion

These websites provide a vast collection of free books legally. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or casual reader, these resources offer incredible value.

Comprehensive List of International Library Associations

Library associations play a crucial role in supporting librarians, advancing library science, and advocating for access to information. Below is a list of prominent international and national library associations, along with their descriptions and links.

1. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

IFLA is the leading international body representing the interests of libraries and information services. It promotes library development, standards, and advocacy worldwide.

2. American Library Association (ALA)

ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world. It provides resources, accreditation, and policy guidance for libraries across the United States and beyond.

3. Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) - UK

CILIP is the professional association for librarians and information professionals in the United Kingdom, offering training, advocacy, and standards development.

4. Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA-FCAB)

CFLA-FCAB represents Canadian library associations, advocating for national policies that support libraries and access to information.

5. Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA)

ALIA is the national association for the Australian library and information sector, supporting professional development, research, and policy-making.

6. European Bureau of Library, Information, and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA)

EBLIDA is a European network of library associations that advocates for library policy, copyright reform, and access to information.

7. Library Association of Singapore (LAS)

LAS supports professional development, networking, and collaboration among librarians in Singapore.

8. African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA)

AfLIA is a regional organization that represents library and information professionals across Africa, promoting access to knowledge and literacy.

9. Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA)

LIASA is the national professional body for librarians in South Africa, providing training, advocacy, and resources for its members.

10. German Library Association (DBV)

DBV represents the interests of German libraries, advocating for better funding, digital access, and research collaboration.

11. Japan Library Association (JLA)

JLA is the primary organization for library professionals in Japan, supporting public, academic, and special libraries.

12. Russian Library Association (RLA)

RLA unites Russian libraries and promotes cooperation, modernization, and research in library sciences.

13. National Library Association of India (NLAI)

NLAI represents Indian librarians and information professionals, supporting education and policy-making for library growth.

14. Mexican Library Association (AMBAC)

AMBAC is the leading library association in Mexico, promoting literacy, library science, and advocacy.

15. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Library Network

The ASEAN Library Network connects national and academic libraries across Southeast Asia to enhance information exchange and cooperation.

16. Middle East Librarians Association (MELA)

MELA promotes the development of libraries in the Middle East and facilitates networking among professionals in the region.

17. International Association of Law Libraries (IALL)

IALL supports legal librarianship worldwide, providing training and access to global legal resources.

18. Medical Library Association (MLA)

MLA is a U.S.-based international association supporting health information professionals and medical libraries.

19. Special Libraries Association (SLA)

SLA is an international organization for special libraries and information professionals, focusing on research, business, and technical library needs.

20. Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)

ACRL is a division of the ALA dedicated to academic and research libraries, providing resources for higher education librarians.

Conclusion

These library associations contribute to the advancement of library science, promote professional development, and advocate for access to knowledge globally. Whether you are a librarian, researcher, or student, these organizations provide valuable resources and networking opportunities.

2025 Comprehensive List of Search Engines

Comprehensive List of Academic Search Engines

Finding high-quality academic resources can be a challenge, but various specialized search engines can help scholars, students, and researchers access scholarly articles, theses, books, and more. Below is a comprehensive list of academic search engines, along with a brief description of each.

1. Google Scholar

Google Scholar is one of the most widely used academic search engines, offering access to scholarly articles, books, conference papers, and patents. It provides citation tracking and allows users to create alerts for specific topics.

2. BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine)

BASE is an open-access search engine maintained by Bielefeld University, Germany. It indexes more than 150 million documents from over 7,000 sources, including journals, repositories, and digital archives.

3. ERIC (Education Resources Information Center)

ERIC is a database sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. It provides a comprehensive collection of education-related literature, including peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, and policy reports.

4. PubMed

PubMed is a leading search engine for biomedical and life sciences literature. Maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), it includes over 30 million citations from MEDLINE and other sources.

5. Science.gov

Science.gov is a U.S. government database that provides access to research from 13 federal agencies, covering over 200 million pages of scientific literature.

6. Semantic Scholar

Semantic Scholar is an AI-powered search engine developed by the Allen Institute for AI. It enhances searches with features like citation influence and related work recommendations.

7. ResearchGate

ResearchGate is a professional network for researchers that allows users to share and access millions of scholarly articles and connect with other scholars.

8. Scopus

Scopus is an abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature, including journals, books, and conference proceedings. It is widely used for tracking citations and impact factors.

9. Web of Science

Web of Science provides access to a wide array of interdisciplinary research, citation tracking, and analytics.

10. JSTOR

JSTOR is a digital library offering thousands of academic journals, books, and primary sources across multiple disciplines.

11. ScienceDirect

ScienceDirect is a scientific database maintained by Elsevier, containing journal articles and book chapters in a range of fields.

12. Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

DOAJ is a curated online directory that provides access to peer-reviewed, open-access journals covering a variety of disciplines.

13. IEEE Xplore

IEEE Xplore offers a large collection of technical literature in electrical engineering, computer science, and electronics.

14. CORE

CORE aggregates open-access research papers from repositories and journals worldwide.

15. WorldWideScience

WorldWideScience is a global science gateway that facilitates searching of international scientific databases.

16. arXiv

arXiv is an open-access repository for preprints in fields such as physics, mathematics, computer science, and biology.

17. SSRN (Social Science Research Network)

SSRN is a database for research in the social sciences and humanities, including working papers and published research.

18. PsycINFO

PsycINFO is maintained by the American Psychological Association and provides access to psychological literature.

19. MathSciNet

MathSciNet is a database for mathematical literature, offering reviews and citations for mathematical research.

20. AGRIS (Agricultural Science and Technology Information)

AGRIS is a global database of agricultural science research, including grey literature and technical reports.

Conclusion

These academic search engines provide valuable resources for researchers and students across different disciplines. Whether you're looking for journal articles, books, technical reports, or preprints, these platforms can help you find the latest and most relevant academic work.

Navigating the Controversy: The Intersection of Politics and Children's Books in School Libraries

Navigating the Controversy: The Intersection of Politics and Children's Books in School Libraries

Collaborating for Success: A Guide for Librarians and AI Developers

 

The Evolution and Innovation of Libraries: From Collections to Complex Services

 

Libraries have long been central to education, culture, and community engagement. As they evolve in response to technological advancements and societal needs, libraries are redefining their roles through innovation. This transformation, however, has been largely overlooked by traditional service and innovation studies despite its critical importance. Libraries are no longer mere repositories of books; they are now dynamic, multifaceted hubs that integrate various services, competencies, and technologies to serve diverse purposes.