Keefe Library news

Internet Archive throws open its doors

Rummaging around in the Internet Archive (IA) can feel like sorting through an older relative's attic. OMG, 15,000 hours of Grateful Dead Concerts! Old knitting magazines! Monster movies from the 1950s! There's a lot of amazing and weird stuff in there.

Internet Archive also has digital copies of many print books. Of course, there's lots of older works that are no longer protected by copyright (Shakespeare, Jane Austen.) Because of the current international emergency, IA announced today: 

• "To address our unprecedented global and immediate need for access to reading and research materials, as of today, March 24, 2020, the Internet Archive will suspend waitlists for the 1.4 million (and growing) books in our lending library by creating a National Emergency Library to serve the nation’s displaced learners." [You can read the complete announcement here.]

That's good news for everyone because IA includes lots of current popular books that students and families might need for class or just to read for fun.  Some examples include: all the Harry Potter books (in multiple languages), all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, To All the Boys I've Ever Loved Before by Jenny Han and many others.

You will need to create an Internet Archive account in order to borrow books. Please note: this is a library for all age groups. Parents and guardians may want to monitor student browsing and borrowing.