Internet Archives (IA)

The Chief Officers of State Libraries (COSLA) signed a Memo of Understanding (MOA) with Internet Archive (IA) to promote among all US libraries a free, eBook lending library of both rights cleared and non-rights cleared books.

Internet Archives is a digital non-profit library (archive.org and openlibrary.org) that already contains more than 3,000,000 online books published before 1923.  Each Maine library (school, public, special, academic) can send one 'non-rights cleared' book published between 1923 and 2000 to Internet Archives, and it will be digitized and added to the Internet Archives for free. The print book you send will not be returned to you. Internet Archive recommends sending a book on local history or genealogy, but any non-rights cleared book is fine. Donating a book will give the donating library access to the OpenLibrary.org online collection of 200,000 eBooks for free.

If additional books are sent, they will be digitized at the cost of $40 each.

  1. Books should be sent to:
    Attn ; Ginger Bisharat
    c/o Internet Archive
    300 Funston Street
    San Francisco CA 94118
  2. Participating libraries should fill out Sections 1 and 2 of this document.
  3. Patrons will access Net Archives material by signing up for an Open Library account.
  4. There is no help desk connected with Internet Archive but use tips will be posted online.

Books may be borrowed for two weeks with a maximum of 5 books per patron. Participating libraries do not have to sign a contract or Memo of Understanding (MOU).  Only one digital copy of a book can circulate at a time.

Over 1,000 libraries are participating in this program including, Boston Public Library, San Francisco Public Library, University of Florida, Biodiversity Heritage Library Consortium and many, many others.

Participation is totally voluntary.