Library - eBooks (Electronic Books)

Subscription Resources

NetLibrary   [open window]

NetLibrary provides easy access to the full text of more than 10,000 reference, scholarly, and professional books.  IMPORTANT:  You must create a NetLibrary user account from an "on campus" computer or from your home computer via NC LIVE (password required).  Afterward, you may access NetLibrary from anywhere.

Gale Virtual Reference Library   [open window]

Gale Virtual Reference Library provides respected authoritative eBook articles from Reference titles in the Arts, Biography, Education, History, Religion, and the Sciences.  IMPORTANT:  The NC LIVE Password is required for Off-Campus use.

Other Sources of Free eBooks

Alex Catalogue of Electronic Texts   [open window]

Alex is a collection of public domain documents from American and English literature and Western philosophy.  The Alex database is fully searchable and indexed for browsing by Author, Title, or Date.  The database contents and search tools may also be downloaded and installed on a home computer.

Bartleby.com: Great Books Online   [open window]

Named after the humble character of Melville's classic, Bartleby the Scrivener, Bartleby.com publishes the classics of literature, nonfiction and reference free of charge for the home, classroom and desktop of each and every Internet participant.  The list of reference works is extensive and includes: The American Heritage Dictionary, Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, American Heritage Book of English Usage, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, Strunk's The Elements of Style, Emily Post's Etiquette, and Transcripts from the Inaugural Addresses of each American President.

eScholarship Editions   [open window]

The eScholarship Editions collection includes almost 2000 books from academic presses on a range of topics, including art, science, history, music, religion, and fiction.  Access to the electronic books is open to all University of California faculty, staff, and students, while select books are available to the public. Print versions of many of the electronic books can be purchased directly from the publishers.

Google Books Search   [open window]

Google Books Search is a full text search of books, including free, downloadable books.  Search for a title or keywords on Google Book Search or using Google's main search (Google.com).  Google provides links to books that match your search.  Just click a book title and you'll see some basic information about the book, similar to a library catalog, plus information on where to buy, borrow, or access them.  "You may also see a few snippets of text from the book showing your search term in context.  If the publisher or author has given us permission through our Partner Program then you'll see a few full pages from the book and if the book is out of copyright, you'll be able to page through the entire book.  In all cases, you'll see links that lead directly to online bookstores where you can buy the book."
NOTE: To limit your search to free fulltext books, choose the 'Full view books' option.

Internet Archive: Text Archive   [open window]

The Internet Archive is building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form.  The Internet Archive is working to prevent the Internet and other "born-digital" materials from disappearing into the past.  Collaborating with institutions including the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian, we are working to preserve a record for generations to come.  As a part of that effort, IA has begun archiving electronic texts.

The National Academy Press   [open window]

The National Academies Press (NAP) was created by the National Academies to publish the reports issued by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council, all operating under a charter granted by the Congress of the United States.  NAP publishes over 200 books a year on a wide range of topics in science, engineering, and health, capturing the most authoritative views on important issues in science and health policy.  The Website is commercial in nature, but NAP allows free online public use of over 3000 titles on these various subjects.  You also have the option purchase the titles in print, or, in some cases as a PDF file at a reduced price.

Online Book Catalog (Project Gutenberg)   [open window]

"Project Gutenberg is the first and largest single collection of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today."  PG provides over 17,000 titles in a variety of languages, and in numerous of formats, the newest being audiobooks.  PG has also begun providing other types of material including musical recordings and sheet music, and "moving pictures".  Also, check out PG's Sister Projects that provide access to even more unique titles.

The Online Books Page   [open window]

The Online Books Page is an index of fulltext electronic books available free through authoritative sites on the Internet including Project Gutenberg, MIT, and the University of Virginia.  The index may be browsed by Author, Title, or Subject (Library of Congress Classification); and is fully searchable.