Open Textbook Library
Open Textbook Library is a free online catalog that helps faculty locate open textbooks for courses.
What Open Textbook Library is
Open Textbook Library is a free online catalog that helps faculty locate open textbooks for courses. Its homepage lists 1,887 books, which visitors can search or browse by subject. The books may be used and distributed without charge, and adaptations are allowed when users follow the individual license and give proper attribution. Each included title must support a quarter- or semester-length course and satisfy requirements for open licensing, availability, institutional use or affiliation, and originality. A complete portable copy must be available, though the author or publisher determines which formats are offered. The library reports that around 70% of its books have been reviewed; faculty reviews are invited through Open Education Network member institutions. Accessibility differs among books, with a VPAT available and accessibility metadata in MARC records. Catalog users can also find the collection through WorldCat and Ex Libris Alma Community Zone, which receive monthly updates. Data options include MARC records, CSV, a JSON API, and RSS or Atom feeds. The records themselves are public domain under CC0. The library does not supply instructor copies.
Good
- Free to download, print, adopt, and adapt under licenses
- Search and browse textbooks by subject
- Offers MARC, CSV, JSON API, and feeds
- Discoverable through WorldCat and Ex Libris Alma
Watch out
- No instructor copies are provided
- Available file formats vary by author or publisher
- Accessibility varies by book
Who it suits
It suits faculty looking for open course textbooks by subject, as well as users who need catalog records or feeds. Instructors seeking ancillary materials should check with authors or publishers.
Verdict
Open Textbook Library brings course-oriented open books and catalog data together at no cost. Faculty should review each book’s license, format, accessibility, and any need for instructor materials.
Plans and prices
From Open Textbook Library's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Open textbooks can be downloaded, printed, adopted, and adapted according to their licenses at no cost |
The facts
Each one read from Open Textbook Library's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accessibility
- A VPAT is available, and accessibility varies by book; the library says its MARC records include accessibility metadata.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Catalog integrations
- The collection is discoverable through WorldCat and Ex Libris Alma Community Zone, with monthly updates to both.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Collection
- The homepage states that the library offers 1,887 open textbooks.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Data access
- The library provides MARC records, a CSV file, a JSON API, and RSS or Atom feeds.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Download formats
- Each included textbook must be available as a complete portable file, such as PDF or EPUB, while the author or publisher chooses which formats to provide.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Eligibility
- Books must support a quarter or semester course and meet the library's criteria for open licensing, availability, institutional use or affiliation, and originality.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The library does not provide instructor copies, and instructors must check with authors or publishers about ancillary materials.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Open use
- Library textbooks are free to use and distribute, and may be adapted with proper attribution under their licenses.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- The library is a referatory that helps faculty find open textbooks in one place.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Record license
- Open Textbook Library records are in the public domain and available under a Creative Commons CC0 license.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Review coverage
- The library says around 70% of its books have been reviewed, with faculty reviews invited through Open Education Network member institutions.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Search and browse
- The site provides textbook search and browsing by subject.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The FAQ directs questions to [email protected].checked 9 Oct 2026
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