California residents now have free access to 30,000 audiobooks and e-books from the California State Library’s virtual bookshelf. You do not need a library card to access all of the digital content; you need an internet connection and email address.

The library announced this week and says it’s already seeing an influx of new users on the Palace app. The virtual bookshelf is made possible through a partnership with the Palace Project. The content spans multiple genres and is in more than 20 languages. More than 3,500 titles are available without wait times or hold queues.

“With just a few clicks, any Californian can 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. “From your home, a coffee shop, or while traveling, you will always be connected to convenience with this new virtual library bookshelf.”

This video outlines precisely what you have to do to download the app for Android or IOS and how to search for the library and then listen to audiobooks or read e-books.

Editor-in-chief | michael@goodereader.com

Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.