MENDOCINO CO., 3/27/25 – Every Californian with an email address and an internet connection can now visit California’s Bookshelf and access more than 300,000 eBooks and eAudiobooks. Previously, readers had to log in through a participating library to get to all the ebooks available on the state’s eBookshelf. With California’s Bookshelf, access to that truly vast collection is just a few clicks away.
Any Californian can go and grab what they’re looking for on California’s Bookshelf. “Trust me, we’ve tried to make something for every reader,” said California State Librarian Greg Lucas. “From your home, a coffee shop or while traveling, you will always be connected to convenience with this new virtual library bookshelf. Did I mention it’s free?”
Thousands of offerings are available in multiple genres and over 20 languages, so no one needs to be left out of the bounty. This resource is golden for rural residents who live far from a library or who have no access to transportation. You don’t need a county library card to participate; you can apply at home.
The eBookshelf is a partnership with the Palace Project. It uses the Palace app to provide access to digital content. There are five steps to access California’s Bookshelf and create a virtual library card:
- Download the free Palace app on your iOS or Android device.
- Inside the app, use the “find my library” search function to find “California’s Bookshelf.”
- Browse the collection until you find a title you would like to read then either “get” or “reserve” that book.
- Choose the option to create a virtual card and then complete the details in the form. You will need to enable the app’s permission to use your specific location, just one time, for the creation of your library card.
- Look in your email for your library card number. You can borrow items using that number and your new password.
See a video of the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFXGOHIQ6nk.
If you log into the Palace app through your local library, you’ll not only have access to all the materials in California’s Bookshelf but also eBooks and audiobooks in your local library’s collection. Access the state’s library here: https://www.library.ca.gov/