12 Platforms to read eBooks for free

The destruction of Gaza and the blockade have prevented books from entering the Strip. Many students, already burdened with university fees, family support and other textbook costs, find even affordable textbooks too expensive. However, there are a few legal platforms that provide free e-books and textbooks.

1. Open Access Textbook Repositories

OpenStax — A comprehensive library of free, peer‑reviewed textbooks across subjects like science, mathematics, and social studies.

Open Textbook Library — An open platform offering freely distributable and shareable open textbooks.

OER Commons — A hub for openly licensed educational resources, including textbooks, lesson plans, and multimedia learning materials.

2.Digital Libraries for Literature and Academic Research

Internet Archive — The non-profit digital library that is responsible for the hosting, digitalisation and preservation of millions of books, web pages, audio files and images.

Open Library — Very similar to Gutenberg.

Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB) — A free digital library providing thousands of scholarly books across various academic disciplines.

Gutenberg — A free digital library offering 79,000 eBooks whose US copyrights have expired. There is no fee or registration required and books are available in multiple formats.

LibriVox — Online platform offering free audiobooks. Many of these have been read and recorded by its own network of volunteers.

3. Academic Databases & Scientific Journals

Jstor Open Access — A digital library providing access to more than 12 million academic journal articles, books, and primary sources.

4. Curated Cultural and Educational Media

Open Culture — A web directory and aggregator that offers a selection of free educational and cultural media with a more academic focus.

5. Digital Libraries - Children

Bloom Library — A free and global digital library offering over 20.000 eBooks in over 1000 languages. Early readers and children’s books make up the vast majority of its online collection.

International Children’s Digital Library — A digital library of children books from all over the world.