California State Library offers e-book and audiobook access through Palace Project | FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News
San Diego County Library Expands Digital Reading Options with The Palace Project
By San Diego Local News
April 1, 2025
San Diego County residents now have access to thousands of additional e-books and audiobooks through The Palace Project, a digital platform that has been adopted by the San Diego County Library system as part of a statewide initiative to expand digital reading access.
The Palace Project app serves as a supplementary resource to the library's primary Libby app, offering an expanded collection that includes fiction and nonfiction for all ages, self-published authors, classics, and more. This implementation is part of California's ambitious "eBooks for All" program, which aims to democratize access to digital reading materials across the state.
"If you can't find what you're looking for in Libby, download The Palace Project app to access even more free eBooks and eAudiobooks," reads the San Diego County Library's promotional message for the service, highlighting its role as an additional resource for digital readers.
How the Program Works
The Palace Project is a collaborative initiative supported by LYRASIS and the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), initially funded by a $5 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. For California's implementation, the State Library committed $1.25 million in Library Services and Technology Act funding to support the acquisition of digital content.
The platform allows libraries to offer content from multiple providers through a single, user-friendly interface. For patrons, this means a streamlined experience accessing digital materials without having to toggle between different apps or platforms.
"The collection is designed to meet the recreational and informational reading needs of California's diverse communities," explains the California State Library, which has built a collection including over 70,000 unique titles with more than 300,000 licenses in over 20 languages.
City vs. County Library Access
It's important for San Diego residents to note that the service is currently available through the San Diego County Library system, which serves the unincorporated areas and several cities within the county. There is no evidence that the separate City of San Diego Public Library system has implemented The Palace Project at this time.
City of San Diego Public Library cardholders continue to access e-books through the SDPL To Go app and other digital resources including cloudLibrary, but do not appear to have Palace Project access through their city library accounts.
Requirements for Access
To access The Palace Project through the San Diego County Library, residents must have a standard SDCL library card. The library specifically notes that Instant Digital Card users cannot access this resource, indicating a need for a full library account.
For those without a San Diego County Library card, obtaining one is free for California residents. The digital resources are subject to the library's standard terms of use, which grant "authorized users a limited, personal, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Service and Service Content for personal, non-commercial use."
State and National Context
The implementation in San Diego County is part of a broader statewide effort that has seen significant investment in digital collections. In July 2024 alone, the State Library awarded collection development grants to nine libraries totaling almost $300,000, which when combined with local matching funds, added more than $350,000 worth of e-book materials accessible to all Californians.
The Palace Project has gained national recognition, with American Libraries magazine referencing "Solutions in San Diego" in a July 2024 article about the project, suggesting the San Diego implementation is being viewed as a notable case study in library industry publications.
Looking Forward
While specific borrowing limits and loan periods for The Palace Project in San Diego County Library are not clearly detailed in available online resources, the platform represents a significant expansion of digital access for county residents.
The implementation aligns with the state's goal of improving access to digital materials, particularly for residents in rural and disadvantaged areas who previously had limited access to robust e-book collections.
For more information about accessing The Palace Project, San Diego County residents are encouraged to visit the San Diego County Library website or contact their local branch directly.
Sources:
- San Diego County Library. "The Palace Project." https://www.sdcl.org/blogs/post/the-palace-project/
- San Diego County Library. "eBooks." https://www.sdcl.org/resources/ebooks/
- San Diego County Library. "Audiobooks." https://www.sdcl.org/resources/audiobooks/
- City of San Diego. "Library Mobile Apps." https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/services/specialresources/mobileapps
- City of San Diego. "eLibrary." https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/elibrary
- San Diego County Library. "Terms of Use." https://sdcl.bibliocommons.com/info/terms
- California State Library. "eBooks for All California." https://www.library.ca.gov/services/to-libraries/ebooks-for-all/
- The Palace Project. "About." https://thepalaceproject.org/about/
- The Palace Project. "Palace in the News." https://thepalaceproject.org/palace-in-the-news/
- San Mateo County Libraries. "Introducing The Palace Project App!" https://smcl.org/introducing-the-palace-project-app/
- City of San Diego. "Library Lending." https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/services/lending
California's State Library Launches Free Access to Thousands of E-books and Audiobooks
April 1, 2025
In a significant move to democratize access to reading materials, the California State Library has announced a groundbreaking initiative providing all California residents with free access to more than 300,000 e-books and audiobooks through The Palace Project, a free mobile application.
The new program, dubbed "California's Bookshelf," eliminates the traditional requirement of a physical library card, instead offering Californians a free virtual library card accessible to anyone with an email address and internet connection.
"With just a few clicks, 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 in a statement about the initiative.
Diverse Collection for All Readers
The digital collection encompasses approximately 70,000 unique titles available in more than 20 languages across various genres. The selection includes content for all age groups, from picture books for young children to adult fiction and nonfiction. Notably, more than 3,500 titles are available without wait times or hold queues, allowing for immediate access.
How to Access
California residents can access the collection by:
- Downloading The Palace Project app on iOS or Android devices
- Searching for "California's Bookshelf" using the app's "Find my library" function
- Creating a virtual card by completing a form and allowing one-time location access
- Confirming via email to receive a virtual card number
- Using the provided number to begin browsing and borrowing digital materials
About The Palace Project
The Palace Project represents a collaborative effort supported by LYRASIS in strategic partnership with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). The platform's name draws inspiration from the concept of public libraries as "Palaces for the People," emphasizing their central role in community life.
The app offers several advantages, including a streamlined user experience that combines resources from multiple providers into a single interface. Users can access content from various sources without having to toggle between different applications.
Part of a Broader Initiative
This latest announcement expands on the "eBooks for All" initiative, a statewide effort that has been developing since at least 2023. The project aims to address digital equity by making e-books and audiobooks more accessible to all Californians, particularly benefiting residents in rural and disadvantaged areas.
The California State Library has committed significant resources to building this shared collection, with previous reports indicating $1.25 million in Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding allocated for purchasing digital content.
Local Library Integration
An additional benefit of The Palace Project app is that users can also access their local library's digital collections through the same platform, creating a more integrated reading experience. Several library systems across California have already joined the initiative, including the San Joaquin Valley Library System, Los Angeles Public Library, and Santa Clara County Library District.
More Details About The Palace Project
The Palace Project is a nonprofit, library-centered digital content platform supported by LYRASIS in partnership with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). Its vision is to strengthen the public library's role as a digital community center through innovative programs and software solutions. The platform allows patrons to access all of their library's digital content through a single interface, including content from major vendors like OverDrive, Baker and Taylor, Bibliotheca, and Bibliolabs.
California's Collection and Selection Process
The "eBooks for All" initiative (which powers "California's Bookshelf") serves as California's statewide eBook library. The collection development is collaborative, with participating libraries selecting materials according to their own collection development policies. These libraries develop the collection "in alignment with their own collection development policy, and the materials purchased will be available across the state to any library that participates in the program."
For funding this collection, the California State Library has established grants through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Library consortiums in California are eligible to participate with a required 25% matching contribution. Materials must be purchased through the Palace Marketplace and made accessible to all participating libraries in California.
The collection is designed to "meet the recreational and informational reading needs of California's diverse communities," with many titles licensed for simultaneous use. The selection currently consists of over 150,000 copies of more than 50,000 titles available to all public libraries to provide free to readers of all ages.
Lending Terms for California Readers
The lending terms vary somewhat by library, but typically users can check out up to 10 titles at a time and place up to 10 holds. Since the app integrates both the state collection and local library collections, the specific borrowing limits may depend on which collection you're accessing.
A notable feature of the collection is that over 3,300 eAudiobooks are "Always Available" with "no waiting, no holds and no limits." This means many popular titles can be accessed by unlimited users simultaneously. The collection also includes many other titles that allow simultaneous use, removing the traditional waiting periods associated with digital library loans.
The state collection also includes a geolocated collection of materials that are all licensed for simultaneous use to anyone inside California, with or without a library card. This ensures broad access regardless of local library membership.
Content Types and Accessibility
The collection includes a wide variety of content spanning multiple genres in more than 20 languages. The 70,000 unique titles include young adult fiction and nonfiction, and children's books ranging from picture books to chapter books.
The Palace application uses the Readium Rendering engine, which renders underlying EPUB text into Text-to-Speech (TTS) that can be read aloud by screen reader software. Mobile device screen readers such as Voice Over on iOS and TalkBack on Android platforms are compatible with the engine, making the app more accessible to users with visual impairments.
The Palace Project represents a significant step toward democratizing access to digital reading materials across California, particularly for residents in rural and disadvantaged areas who previously had limited access to robust e-book collections.
I'll search for information about which libraries in San Diego County and the City of San Diego are participating in The Palace Project, along with their terms and policies for patrons.
Based on my research, I can provide information about San Diego libraries participating in The Palace Project and their policies for patrons.
Libraries in San Diego County Participating in The Palace Project
San Diego County Library System
The San Diego County Library system is participating in The Palace Project. They promote it as a supplementary resource that offers "even more free eBooks and eAudiobooks" beyond what's available in their primary Libby app. Their website specifically mentions that the app provides access to "fiction and nonfiction for all ages, books by self-published authors, classics, and more."
City of San Diego Public Library
From my searches, I don't see evidence that the City of San Diego Public Library system is currently participating in The Palace Project. Their website mentions their mobile app "SDPL To Go" and other e-book services like cloudLibrary, but does not reference The Palace Project. They offer various e-book resources through their eLibrary section, which remains accessible 24/7 for library cardholders.
This suggests that while the San Diego County Library system (which serves the unincorporated areas and several cities within the county) has adopted The Palace Project, the separate City of San Diego Public Library system appears to be using different platforms for e-book access.
Terms and Policies for Patrons
San Diego County Library - Palace Project Terms
While specific borrowing limits for The Palace Project aren't detailed on the San Diego County Library's website, they do note one important restriction: "A standard SDCL library card is required to access this resource." This means users with Instant Digital Cards cannot access The Palace Project collection.
The general terms of use for San Diego County Library digital resources state that they grant "authorized users a limited, personal, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Service and Service Content for personal, non-commercial use." They also specify that users may not "copy, reproduce, republish, download, post, broadcast, transmit, make available to the public, or otherwise use the Service Content in any way except for your own personal, non-commercial use."
General Library Card Requirements
For the City of San Diego Public Library, library cards are free to California residents, property owners in the City of San Diego, and active military stationed in San Diego County. Non-residents must pay an annual fee of $32.50. Library card privileges expire yearly and require renewal with proof of current address.
Based on information from other libraries using The Palace Project (such as San Mateo County Libraries), the app typically allows users to combine e-book and audiobook collections from different platforms into a single interface. Users can add multiple libraries to their Palace app as long as those libraries offer The Palace Project and the user has a valid library card for each library.
Features and Benefits
The Palace Project has been mentioned in the context of San Diego in library industry publications. American Libraries magazine referenced "Solutions in San Diego" in a July 2024 article about The Palace Project, suggesting some form of implementation in the San Diego area.
Unfortunately, specific borrowing limits (number of items, loan periods, etc.) for The Palace Project in San Diego County Library are not clearly detailed in the available online resources. For the most current and detailed information about borrowing limits, renewal policies, and other specific terms, patrons would need to contact the San Diego County Library directly or check their FAQ section once logged into their account.
Sources:
- EdSource. "Californians now have access to 300,000 eBooks through California State Library." https://edsource.org/updates/californians-now-have-access-to-300000-ebooks-through-california-state-library
- Good e-Reader. "California has access to 300,000 ebooks and audiobooks." https://goodereader.com/blog/digital-library-news/california-has-access-to-300000-ebooks-and-audiobooks
- California State Library. "eBooks for All California." https://www.library.ca.gov/services/to-libraries/ebooks-for-all/
- The Palace Project. (Official website). https://thepalaceproject.org/
- San Joaquin Valley Library System. "SJVLS Libraries Join the Palace Project." https://www.sjvls.org/news/sjvls-joins-palace-project
- Los Angeles Public Library. "The Palace Project." https://www.lapl.org/palace-project
- Santa Clara County Library District. "eBooks & Audiobooks." https://sccld.org/resources/ebooks-audiobooks/
- Santa Barbara Public Library. "Palace Project." https://library.santabarbaraca.gov/books-more/digital-library/palace-project
- FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. "California State Library offers e-book and audiobook access through Palace Project." https://fox5sandiego.com/news/california-state-library-offers-e-book-and-audiobook-access-through-palace-project/
Behind California's Digital Library Revolution: The Making of The Palace Project
Development Partners
The Palace Project represents a collaborative effort between multiple organizations committed to expanding digital access to library materials. The platform is developed and managed by LYRASIS, a global nonprofit membership organization, in strategic partnership with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA).
The technology builds upon the Library Simplified platform, an open-source code base originally designed and developed by the New York Public Library. In 2021, LYRASIS acquired BiblioLabs, further strengthening the project's technological capabilities.
California Implementation
For California's implementation, the State Library partnered with the Black Gold Cooperative Library System to establish the "eBooks for All California" initiative. The California State Library administers the program and oversees the grants that fund access to The Palace Project for libraries throughout the state.
Funding Structure
National Level
The Palace Project was launched with a substantial $5 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in 2021. This initial funding allowed for the development of the platform and infrastructure that would eventually serve libraries nationwide.
California's Investment
The California State Library committed $1.25 million in Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding to support grants for purchasing e-books and audiobooks for the shared collection. This federal funding comes from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and is distributed to state library administrative agencies using a population-based formula.
In July 2024 alone, the State Library awarded collection development grants to nine libraries totaling almost $300,000. When combined with local matching funds, this investment added more than $350,000 worth of e-book materials accessible to all Californians.
Cost-Sharing Model
Ongoing funding operates through a cost-sharing model:
- Libraries receiving grants must provide a 25% matching contribution
- Matching requirements vary based on a library's Local Income Per Capita level
- Library cooperatives typically provide a 20% match
- For awards under $20,000, payment is made in full to grantees
- Larger awards follow a 45%/45%/10% payment schedule
Collection Development
The collection is developed collaboratively by participating libraries according to their own collection development policies. The materials purchased become available across the state to any library that participates in the program.
The cost-sharing model and collaborative approach have enabled California to build an extensive digital collection that particularly benefits residents in rural and disadvantaged areas who previously had limited access to e-books and audiobooks.
Current Status
As of early 2025, the collection includes over 70,000 unique titles with more than 300,000 licenses in over 20 languages. Notably, more than 3,500 titles are available for simultaneous use, meaning there are no wait times or hold queues for these materials.
Sources:
- The Palace Project. "About." https://thepalaceproject.org/about/
- DPLA. "New Digital Platform Empowers Public Libraries and Patrons, Boosts Equitable Access to Knowledge." https://dp.la/news/new-digital-platform-empowers-public-libraries-and-patrons-boosts-equitable-access-to-knowledge
- Publishers Weekly. "Knight Foundation Invests $5 Million in 'Library-Centered' Digital Platform." https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/86780-knight-foundation-invests-5-million-in-library-centered-digital-platform.html
- California State Library. "eBooks for All California." https://www.library.ca.gov/services/to-libraries/ebooks-for-all/
- San Joaquin Valley Library System. "SJVLS Libraries Join the Palace Project." https://www.sjvls.org/news/sjvls-joins-palace-project
- California State Library. "LSTA eBooks for All California Grants." https://www.library.ca.gov/grants/ebooks-for-all/
- The Palace Project. "FAQs." https://thepalaceproject.org/faq/
- California State Library. "Library Services and Technology Act Grant Programs in California." https://www.library.ca.gov/services/to-libraries/lsta/
- California Grants Portal. "eBooks for All California Collection Development Grant Opportunity." https://www.grants.ca.gov/grants/ebooks-for-all-california-collection-development-grant-opportunity/
- DPLA. "Towards access for all: Introducing The Palace Project." https://dp.la/news/towards-access-for-all-introducing-the-palace-project
(FOX 5/KUSI) — The California State Library announced on Wednesday a new partnership that makes it easier for residents to access hundreds of thousands of free e-books and audiobooks.
The library announced it is making more than 300,000 e-books and audiobooks available on The Palace Project, a free mobile phone app.
“With just a few clicks, 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,” reads part of a statement from California State Librarian Greg Lucas.
According to the California State Library, the new initiative provides Californians with a free virtual library card to access the collection, similar to how local libraries allow users access to their own collections of e-books.
Here’s what a user needs to do:
• download The Palace Project app onto their phone
• in “Find my library,” search for “California’s Bookshelf”
• choose a book and tap “Get” or “Reserve”
• tap on “Create Card,” allow the app to use your location once, and fill out the form
• check your email address to confirm
• in the same email, grab your virtual card number and plug it in to the app to start reading
According to the California State Library, users of The Palace Project app can also access their local library’s collection of e-books and audiobooks.
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