When you read the phrase “invisible library,” you might think that this post is somehow Halloween-related.

Not true. Instead, it refers to something that may not be on our shelves, but is still available to you.

Interested? Read on!

Because there are waaay more titles that we could ever hope to carry at our Cole and Osage County branches, we also have thousands of downloadable books, magazines, audiobooks, and movies available through the Hoopla, Libby (listed with the card catalog as MOLib2Go eBooks), and Kanopy apps. You can download these -- for free -- from either the Android or Apple app stores, then input this library and your card number to get started.

We also can help you locate an item. MRRL offers access to a network of other public and academic libraries called MOBIUS (“Search MOBIUS” on the catalog screen) and interlibrary loan.

If you are not able to use standard print materials due to a visual or physical disability, the Missouri Secretary of State office offers the Wolfner Talking Book and Braille Library. There are materials available online, by phone, downloads, with their app, or you may have materials sent to your home, postage-paid. We can get you registered if you qualify. 

There are also books available for download (to keep!) from eBooks located in our digital resources. Access them either on our website at Explore > Online Learning and Resources, or Online Services on our online catalog page. Use the categories in the left column to begin your search and refine your search to “download available” within your chosen category.

But that’s not all! Many titles -- books, movies, music, television and even software -- are available in the public domain or with the author’s permission. Here are some of the best-known places to look for books and much, much more:

• Project Gutenberg – a library of over 60,000 free eBooks
• Digital Public Library of America – Millions of eBooks, pictures, and videos
• Internet Archive – Offers more than 20 million books and texts, along with music and software
• Google Books – An index of full-text books or use their advanced search
• LibriVox – Public domain audiobooks (where you can also volunteer to be a reader)
• Open Music Archive – Digitized out-of-copyright sound recordings

That’s a list to get you started, but if you want to explore further, here are sites listing these and other such sites with descriptions:

• 25 Public Domain Book Sites (bluesyemre)
• Where to Find Public Domain Books (Public Domain Sherpa)
• 7 Best Public Domain Music Sites (Lifewire)
• Top 8 Sites for Free Public Domain Audiobook (Epubor)

Happy hunting!