Welcome to the Public Library Online offering concurrent online user access to a range of fiction and non-fiction from your local library from a range of publishers including Bloomsbury, A&C Black, Wisden, Arden Shakespeare, Faber, Quercus, Canongate and Allison & Busby with more coming soon. No complicated downloads, DRM or decisions on which device to buy, simply access the books using your existing computer or internet enabled mobile phone in the library and remotely from home or elsewhere. Browse the shelves below with added extras including video author interviews, reading group guides, reviews, search, and more.

If you're a librarian who would like to subscribe, or a member of the public who would like your local library to offer this service, please email us.


Reading Group Shelf
Includes the following titles and more:

Crime Fiction Shelf
Includes the following titles and more:

Teen Fiction Shelf
Includes the following titles and more:

Children’s History Shelf
Includes the following titles and more:

Our Environment Shelf
Includes the following titles and more:

Soldiers and Spies Shelf
Includes the following titles and more:

In My Own Words Shelf
Includes the following titles and more:

Writers on Writers Shelf
Includes the following titles and more:

Britain and the Empire Shelf
Includes the following titles and more:

Childhood Shelf
Includes the following titles and more:

Wisden Shelf
Includes the following titles and more:

More shelves coming soon.

Each bookshelf is available on an annual subscription basis and will be charged according to the population served. New titles are added to each bookshelf free-of-charge within the subscription year where appropriate. New themed bookshelves are created regularly. Access to the content is through UK Public Libraries using existing technology and remotely with the use of a library card on home computers and internet enabled devices.

To subscribe, please email us.