Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Public Domain Literature Library (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service. We may revise these terms from time to time, and your continued use after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated terms. It is your responsibility to review the terms periodically.
Use of the Service
The Service provides a curated catalogue of ebooks and related editorial content for lawful personal, non-commercial use. You may browse, read, and download works offered here. All content is provided for informational and educational purposes. Where enabled, you may also create an account to save preferences or reading lists, but no personal information is required to access the core catalogue. Accounts are optional and offered solely to enhance your experience; we do not require registration for general use.
Prohibited Conduct
You agree not to:
- Use the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable law.
- Reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works of the content except as permitted by applicable copyright law.
- Engage in automated extraction, scraping, data mining, or any activity that imposes an unreasonable burden on our servers.
- Interfere with the proper functioning of the Service, including introducing malware or attempting to bypass security measures.
- Upload or transmit any content that is defamatory, obscene, or infringes on the rights of others.
Copyright and Public Domain
We strive to include only works that are in the public domain in their country of origin and in the United States. However, copyright laws vary by jurisdiction. It is your responsibility to verify the legal status of any work before using it in a manner that may require permission. Some works may include editorial annotations, introductions, or other original content that may be subject to copyright. For example, our editorial series such as "Adventure Picaresque Fiction" or "Fantasy Juvenile Worlds" include original commentary and selection notes that are our own intellectual property. Similarly, works like "Address, delivered in Craigie Hall, Edinburgh, February 24th, 1871 — A Reader’s Guide" or "My study windows — Text and Context" contain curated context materials that we have created. You may use the underlying public-domain text freely, but the editorial enhancements are provided under these terms. This distinction helps ensure that our original contributions remain protected while the classic texts themselves remain freely available.
User Responsibility
You are solely responsible for your use of the Service and any content you access. We do not guarantee that any work is free from copyright restrictions in your location. You should consult a legal professional if you have questions about a specific work. For instance, works such as "Letters from the peninsula, 1808-1812 — Reading Notes" or "How it feels to be colored me — Context and Discussion" may have different copyright statuses in different countries due to varying rules on publication and author death dates. The same applies to titles like "The negro workers — Key Ideas to Explore" or "Europe and elsewhere — Reading Notes". Always confirm the public-domain status in your own jurisdiction before any use beyond personal reading.
Third-Party Links
The Service may contain links to external websites or resources. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or availability of those sites. Your use of linked sites is at your own risk. Links are provided for convenience and do not imply endorsement. We encourage you to review the terms and policies of any third-party site you visit.
Availability and Accuracy
We make reasonable efforts to keep the Service available and accurate, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted access or error-free content. The catalogue may be updated, removed, or modified at any time without notice. Bibliographic details, transcriptions, and editorial notes are provided as-is and may contain errors or omissions. For example, titles like "Natural history of intellect, and other papers — Inside the Classic" or "Prose remains of Arthur Hugh Clough, with a selection from his letters and a memoir — Background and Themes" are based on historical sources that may have inconsistencies. We rely on archival materials and scholarly editions, and while we aim for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that every detail is correct.
Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SERVICE AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Limitation of Liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION. This limitation applies even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Suspension and Termination
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access to any user who violates these terms or engages in abusive behavior, without prior notice. We may also modify or discontinue the Service at any time. In the event of termination, any rights granted to you under these terms will cease immediately, and you must cease using the Service.
Severability
If any part of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid part shall be modified to reflect the original intent as closely as possible.
Contact
If you have questions about these terms or wish to report a copyright concern, please contact the catalogue project at [email protected]. We aim to respond to inquiries promptly but do not guarantee a specific response time. We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining a respectful and lawful environment for all users.