Open Library is an open, collaborative, universal catalog operated by the nonprofit Internet Archive with support from institutions like the California State Library and foundations like Kahle/Austin . It was created in 2006 by pioneers such as Aaron Swartz and Brewster Kahle, with the goal of having a web page for every book ever published.
Core Features Universal Catalog: Aggregates metadata from Library of Congress, WorldCat, booksellers, and user edits. It organizes data into structured “Things”—Authors, Works, Editions, and Subjects—using linked data principles for richer discovery. Digital Lending: Hosts over 1.6 million public-domain books as full-text; offers controlled digital lending of hundreds of thousands of in-copyright titles under fair-use principles. Open Participation: Anyone can create an account (which becomes your digital library card), borrow books, edit catalog entries, build reading lists, maintain logs, and sponsor digitization of out-of-print works. Accessibility & Integration: Provides features like text-to-speech (DAISY format) for visually impaired users and integrates with trusted sources like Project Gutenberg, LibriVox, Standard Ebooks, and Wikisource.
Technology & Community Built on Infogami (a Python-based wiki framework) and Infobase, Open Library supports structured data entry alongside plain wiki editing.As an open-source project under AGPLv3, it welcomes contributions from over 100 global volunteers .
Vision & Impact Open Library aspires to democratize access to knowledge—making the human record available globally, irregardless of location, ability, or affordability. It empowers a math student in a remote area, enhances accessibility for print-disabled readers, and preserves cultural heritage in the digital age .
