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Reference.org
Shadow library
open-in-new
<p>Shadow libraries (also pirate libraries or black open access) are online repositories of freely available <a href="/facts/Digital_media/QLXzDrhL">digital media</a> that are normally <a href="/facts/Paywall/42qFQy1U">paywalled</a>, <a href="/facts/Digital_rights_management/4AF8JmDt">access-controlled</a>, or otherwise not readily accessible. Shadow libraries usually contain textual works like <a href="/facts/Academic_publishing/WfPqsYr1">academic papers</a> and <a href="/facts/Ebook/yrBWpU8E">ebooks</a>, and may include other digital media like software, music, or films. </p><p><a href="/facts/Anna%27s_Archive/hKh4FHWM">Anna's Archive</a>, <a href="/facts/Library_Genesis/9xazw0xh">Library Genesis</a>, <a href="/facts/Sci-Hub/kQSxPsKS">Sci-Hub</a>, <a href="/facts/UbuWeb/VeWf75tS">UbuWeb</a> and <a href="/facts/Z-Library/TCPVK8qq">Z-Library</a> are some of the most popular shadow libraries for books and academic literature. </p>