Project Gutenberg – Free Classic Books
History: Founded by Michael Hart in 1971, it is the oldest digital library, pioneering free access to public domain texts. It relies on volunteers to digitise and proofread books.
What it does: Offers over 75,000 free eBooks, primarily older literary works where U.S. copyright has expired. Formats include EPUB, Kindle, and HTML. It also collaborates with LibriVox for audiobooks and encourages donations to digitize more books.
Future plans: Continue expanding its collection through volunteer efforts and partnerships, and improve accessibility for mobile devices and eReaders.