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Biodiversity Heritage Library

Centuries of natural history books scanned page by page, including illustrations nobody has looked at in decades.

Opens in a new tab. We do not control this site and it may have changed since we catalogued it.

How to get the most from it

Biodiversity Heritage Library sits in Free Libraries under Learn, filed as rabbit hole.

  • Open it when the evening is free. It has no natural stopping point.
  • It works on a phone or a desktop, so open it on whatever is nearest.
  • It works with the sound off, so it is fine on a train or in a quiet office.
  • No account needed — you can start without signing up.
  • Go in expecting something beautiful and brainy.

About this category: Public-domain books, scanned art, academic archives and collections built by people who cared far too much about one subject. Bring time.

Good for

  • A long evening with nothing planned
  • Looking at something lovely
  • Giving your brain a workout
  • A quiet break at your desk
  • Killing time on your phone
  • Trying it with zero commitment

Biodiversity Heritage Library: quick answers

Is Biodiversity Heritage Library free?

Yes. Biodiversity Heritage Library is free to use and needs no account.

Do I need an account to use Biodiversity Heritage Library?

No. You can use Biodiversity Heritage Library without signing up for anything.

Does Biodiversity Heritage Library work on a phone?

Yes. Biodiversity Heritage Library works on phones as well as desktop browsers.

Is Biodiversity Heritage Library safe for work?

Yes, we file it as safe for work. It also works muted.

How long does Biodiversity Heritage Library take?

We file it as "Rabbit hole": Clear your evening. We warned you.

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