Shadow libraries are databases of textual content that is otherwise obscured or not accessible because of paywalls or other access controls, regardless of copyright restrictions.[1] Based on corresponding actions in relation to software, music or films, there is sometimes talk of “book piracy”.
Shadow libraries are often established in order to give a broad public access to chargeable academic literature against the background of the so-called journal crisis, in addition to the political demand that publicly funded research results should be freely available to everyone (Open Access) – another reaction to the sometimes exorbitantly high prices, particularly for scientific literature.
Examples of shadow libraries include:
1.Library Genesis
2.Z-Library
3.Sci-Hub