The Humboldt County Library subscribes to several sources of books that you can read online.  These eBooks are available to you at no cost through the library web page and the library catalog.  To read them from outside the library, you will need your Humboldt County library card. 

As yet, most of the eBooks you will find on our catalog and below are nonfiction books, books of fact and information, that you can read from your monitor screen.  However, if you are looking for novels and stories. or audiobooks,  many of these works can be found freely available online.  

NetLibrary eBooks 
To see the titles the library subscribes to online from NetLibrary, click the blue words NetLibrary eBooks above.  You can also find the eBooks on the library catalog by searching the call number "eBook" or using the keywords "electronic resource."   

Troubleshooting when using eBooks on your own computer:

• If a password is required, try using your library card barcode.

• If using a PC, use the Adobe Reader to see NetLibrary eBooks.

• If you are a Mac user,  you'll be ok if you are using newer Mac operating system (10.4 - 10.6) and the Safari browser. Otherwise, you may need to download the Schubert pdf  browser plug-in and try using any other browser but Safari (Internet Explorer or Firefox, for example.)

• For certain special eBooks in the DjVu format, the DjVu browser plug-in is required.  (These books are clearly marked as DjVu format books.)

Library Databases

Most of our databases include whole books, encyclopedias, and magazines that you can access electronically.  Of special note are the databases listed below:  They can be found on our  Articles and Databases page.

The Gale Virtual Reference Library (ARTICLES AND DATABASES ) is the best way to access the following eBooks: 
• West's Encyclopedia of American Law, 
• Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia  
• Fashion, Costume, and Culture

General Reference Center Gold  (ARTICLES AND DATABASES ) allows you to read many of your favorite magazines online, and has encyclopedias and other useful reading material.

Testing and Education Reference Center contains the following long lists of eBooks: 

Civil Service Exams (ARTICLES AND DATABASES )
• American Foreign Service Officer Exam
• Case Worker Exam
• Civil Service Exams
• Civil Service Arithmetic and Vocabulary
• Civil Service Handbook
• Clerical Exams
• Corrections Officer Exam
• Court Officer Exam
• EMT–Basic Certification Exam
• Firefighter Exam
• How to Become a U.S. Citizen
• Law Enforcement Exams
• NCLEX-PN® Nursing Certification Exams
• Police Officer Exam
• Police Sgt, Lt., and Capt. Promotion Exams
• Postal Clerk and Carrier
• PRAXIS I™: PPST® Exam
• Praxis II™ Exam
• Probation Officer/Parole Officer Exam
• Real Estate Exams
• State Trooper Exams

Military Exams ( ARTICLES AND DATABASES .)
• Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
• Military Flight Aptitude Tests
• Officer Candidate Tests

High School Level Exams ( ARTICLES AND DATABASES .)
• GED Success
• Catholic High School Entrance Exams
• Master the GED
• Master the SSAT/ISEE
• SSAT/ISEE Success

College Entrance Exams (ARTICLES AND DATABASES )
• Master the ACT Assessment®
• Master the SAT
• New SAT Critical Reading Workbook
• New SAT Math Workbook
• New SAT Writing Workbook
• PSAT Success
• SAT II Math
• SAT II Success Biology E/M
• SAT II Success Literature
• Master the SAT Subject Test: Math Levels 1 and 2
• SAT II Success Physics
• SAT II Success U.S. History
• Ultimate ACT Assessment® Tool Kit
• Ultimate New SAT Tool Kit

College Credit Advanced Placement Tests (ARTICLES AND DATABASES )
• AP European History
• AP Success: Physics B/C
• AP World History
• CLEP Success
• DSST: The Official Test Preparation Guide
• Master the AP Calculus AB & BC
• Master the AP Chemistry
• Master the AP English Language & Composition
• Master the AP English Literature & Composition
• Master the AP U.S. Government & Politics
• Master AP U.S. History
• Master TOEFL® Reading Skills
• Master TOEFL® Vocabulary
• Master TOEFL® Writing Skills

Graduate Entrance Exams  ( ARTICLES AND DATABASES .)
• Countdown to the LSAT
• LSAT Success
• Master the GMAT®
• Master the GRE®
• MCAT Success
• Ultimate GMAT® Tool Kit
• Ultimate GRE® Tool Kit

FICTION:  Novels and Stories for Your Reading Pleasure
While most of the library's eBook subscriptions bring you books on nonfiction subjects such as those above, a lifetime's reading in novels and stories is available freely on the Internet, including many of the finest books ever written in the English language.  You won't find many brand new best-sellers there, but wonderful treasures are waiting for your discovery.  Here are some links to try:

Books to read:

Bartleby.com - Great books online
Online Books Page - from the University of Pennsylvania
Forgotten books - fiction and nonfiction from days gone by
Bibliomania  classic fiction online, and other books

Books to listen to:

LibriVox.org -  free online audiobooks