Free Online Library Resources by State (ELM, TEL, AVL & More)
Most states give every resident free e-books, audiobooks, and research databases with a library card. Here’s each state’s statewide digital library — all 50 states plus D.C.
By the Public-Libraries.com Editorial Team · Updated August 7, 2026
What is a statewide online library?
Almost every U.S. state funds a statewide digital library: a free collection of research databases, magazines, newspapers, e-books, and audiobooks that any resident can use — usually just by signing in with a local library card, and in some states simply by being in-state. These programs are paid for with state and federal funds, so they cost you nothing on top of your taxes.
They go by different names in every state — ELM in Minnesota, TEL in Tennessee, the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL), NC LIVE in North Carolina, GALILEO in Georgia — but the idea is the same. The table below lists the free statewide resource for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with a link to each state’s library directory.
Free statewide library resource in every state
How to access your state’s free resources
In most states you reach these tools through your public library’s website: look for “Research,” “Databases,” “Digital Library,” or “eBooks,” and sign in with your library-card number and PIN. Some statewide portals (such as Florida’s FEL or New Jersey’s JerseyClicks) work automatically when you’re connected from an in-state internet address, with no card required. For e-books and audiobooks, most states use the Libby app (OverDrive), and many also offer hoopla or Kanopy.
A few states — including Colorado and North Dakota — don’t brand a single statewide consumer portal. Instead, residents reach free databases and Libby e-books through their local library and the state library’s consortium. The result is the same: free access with a library card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these statewide library databases really free?
Yes. They’re funded by state and federal library funds. As long as you have a free library card (or, in some states, an in-state internet connection), you pay nothing to use them.
Do I need a library card to use my state’s online library?
Usually yes — you sign in with your library-card number. A few state portals authenticate by location instead, so you can use them from any in-state device without a card. Either way, getting a library card is free for residents.
What can I actually get with these resources?
Depending on the state: research and reference databases, full-text magazines and newspapers, encyclopedias, learning and test-prep tools, genealogy resources, and free e-books and audiobooks through apps like Libby.
My state isn’t showing a single portal — what do I do?
A handful of states offer their free databases and e-books through local libraries rather than one branded website. Just visit your public library’s site (find yours in our directory) and look for “Research” or “Digital Library.”
What’s the difference between these statewide databases and my local library’s own online resources?
Statewide portals are paid for by the state and open to every resident — often with no card, just proof you live there. Your local library layers extra subscriptions on top — e-books and audiobooks through Libby, hoopla and Kanopy, plus things like Ancestry Library Edition or language apps — which are funded locally and need your specific library card. So the state portal is your baseline; your local card unlocks the extras.
Do these statewide resources include Ancestry or genealogy databases?
Sometimes, but it varies by state. The statewide packages are built mainly around research databases, magazines, journals and newspapers. Premium genealogy services such as Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest are usually offered in the library building or through your local library card, not the free statewide portal — see our genealogy & local history guide and ask your local library what it subscribes to.
PL
Public-Libraries.com Editorial Team
Public-Libraries.com is an independent, reader-supported directory of every U.S. public library. Our editorial team compiles verified hours, services and resources from official sources — see how we verify our data.
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