/tour/readbooks
Type: /type/page
body: value: If you've come to Open Library looking for a book to read, we can help you there, too. As we mentioned, Open Library doesn't actually have any books, but we may know somewhere else that has the title you're looking for to buy, borrow or read online.

<h3>Buying Books</h3>

There are some things that we know about a book, and there are some things we assume. One assumption is that if an edition has an ISBN number, chances are that it's available to buy from a book vendor. If we know an edition's ISBN number, we'll provide links to some online book sellers, though we don't presently know if a book is actually available from a specific seller. In cases where we have an ISBN number, we'll assume it's valid for that edition and generate a link so you may purchase it online.

We provide links to [Alibris][1], [Amazon][2], [Biblio.com][3] and [Powell's][4]. As an Amazon associate, we derive a small fee from Amazon for sending you to them if you buy something there, but otherwise we receive no remuneration. 

<h3>Borrowing Books</h3>

If you want to borrow a book, we'll use the same ISBN method above to provide links to online services that work on behalf of libraries, and in most cases you will need to be a member of your local library to complete the transaction. We'll assume you love libraries as much as we do and that won't be a problem for you. However, your local library may not have a copy of the book available, and again we can't presently verify that information.

<h3>Downloading Books</h3>

If you want to read a book *right now* without waiting for a physical copy to come to you, we'll try to accommodate you.

When we speak of downloadable books, we mean free and downloadable. With Kindle, iPad, Sony Reader and a variety of other new devices, you can often buy ebooks that download to your device, but don't allow you to move or copy them elsewhere, or share them with friends. Free ebooks are just that - free! These are generally older titles, or classics, and we may have several different editions available.

We'll indicate if a free, online version of an edition is available on the [search results][5] page, and you can simple click the "Read" link to start enjoying the book right now. We'll also provide links to online, accessible books in the list of editions on [a work's page][6], and again on any free and [downloadable edition's page][7].

For our blind and visually impaired visitors, there may be audible versions of books available for free that are not generally otherwise available. In those cases, a Protected DAISY icon signifies that the linked document is protected and must be unlocked. More information is available in [our F.A.Q.][8]


  [1]: http://www.alibris.com/
  [2]: http://www.amazon.com/
  [3]: http://www.biblio.com/
  [4]: http://www.powells.com/
  [5]: /search?q=robinson+crusoe
  [6]: /works/OL45310W/Robinson_Crusoe#editions
  [7]: /books/OL7073067M/Robinson_Crusoe
  [8]: /help/faq#what-is-accessible
title: Reading and Downloading Books