Open Library
Open Library is the Internet Archive's open, editable library catalog, with web pages for books, lending, reading lists and community editing.
- GitHub stars
- 6.7k
- Last commit
- today
- Latest release
- deploy-2026-09-29-at-18-55
- Licence
- AGPL-3.0
- Hosted version
- Available
Open Library is an open, editable library catalog run by the Internet Archive, with the goal of having a web page for every book ever published. This repository holds the code behind the openlibrary.org website, which is operated as a public service rather than something most people install themselves.
On the site, visitors can search and browse by subject, view trending titles, explore virtual shelves in Library Explorer, search inside the text of books, and borrow books online through Controlled Digital Lending. Readers can keep a reading log, create lists, set yearly reading goals and browse collections such as a K-12 student library. Anyone can contribute by adding books, correcting records or volunteering as an Open Librarian, and a Developer Center covers the API.
The software is written in Python and released under the AGPL-3.0 licence, and the interface is available in many languages. The project is nonprofit and accepts donations.
Key features
- Searchable catalog of books
- Borrowing through Controlled Digital Lending
- Full-text search inside books
- Reading log, lists and yearly goals
- Library Explorer virtual shelves
- Community editing of book records
Pricing: Free to use at openlibrary.org; the code is open source under AGPL-3.0 and the service accepts donations.
