Learning Opportunities - Free Recreational Reading Sources

Here are a few free sources of books, audiobooks, and graphic novels that can be accessed from home online. While we are closed, I will also be periodically posting on Twitter with some specific recommended books and resources, so follow @uhslibrary or #uhsllearningops to see those posts.

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Public Domain Books and eBooks

Project Gutenberg offers public domain eBooks that can be downloaded in a variety of formats.

LibriVox offers public domain works as audiobooks, recorded by volunteer readers. The audio files can be downloaded and played in whatever player you prefer to use. They do not produce their own apps for listening; however, many apps have been created to search and play books from their catalog of audiobooks.

OverDrive Through the Public Library

OverDrive is a service libraries use to loan eBooks and eAudiobooks. Using your C/W MARS card from the Uxbridge Free Public Library, you can go to cwmars.overdrive.com or create an account in the Libby app to search for, check out, read, and download available books.

Don't have a card at the Uxbridge Free Public Library? That's okay; sign up for one once the library reopens! Meanwhile, the Boston Public Library offers an eCard that is free for all Massachusetts residents. Sign up for on at bpl.org/ecard, then go to bpl.overdrive.com to search their OverDrive catalog or set up Libby using your new eCard.

OverDrive has a lot of helpful resources online for getting started and setting up the Libby app on any device you might have.

Hoopla Through the Public Library

Hoopla is another library service for borrowing eBooks and eAudiobooks, as well as streaming a selection of music, TV, and movies. Use your C/W MARS library card to set up an account and borrow 10 items each month using these instructions from the Uxbridge Free Public Library.

Again, if you don't have a C/W MARS card yet, the Boston Public Library also offers Hoopla to Massachusetts residents with a BPL eCard. Their instructions for setting up an account using a BPL eCard is here

Textbooks from Cambridge University Press

Textbooks from Cambridge University Press will be available online for free through the end of May, so this is a good time to explore a new topic!

Riveted from Simon Teen

Riveted's Free Reads are from the publisher Simon Teen, which offers a handful of full books and extended excerpts from their catalog online, which change each month. After creating an account using an email address, you can read the month's books online in your browser.

Tor.com's eBook of the Month Club

Science fiction and fantasy publisher Tor's monthly book club offers a free eBook every month. Signing up requires an email address.

Scribd Free Month

Styled as a Netflix-style app for eBooks, Scribd is offering a free month. You have to create an account, but if you use the link in their letter explaining the decision, you do not need to give them any payment information.

Starting April 30 - Audiobook SYNC

It's a little ways off, but SYNC offers 2 free teen audiobooks each week during late spring and early summer. As long as you download that week's books during the week they are offered, they are yours to keep! Downloading requires submitting an email address and using the Sora app. This year's lineup of books can be viewed here.