Where is public domain content available? There are literally millions of creative work-books, music, music scores, films, photographs, artwork, images, and much more that exist in the public domain. But if they're so public, why are they hiding?

The short answer is: they aren't. There are a multitude of well-known works that people don't realize are now considered public property. From classic literature to non-fiction works on a wide variety of topics; silent films, classic movies, vintage cartoons and beloved songs; even some instantly recognizable artwork and images can be found in the public domain.

Below you will find several methods of finding public domain work that you can use in any way you like to start making money.

Internet Searches

Where would we be these days without the Internet? There are literally millions of resources on the world wide web, available for anyone with the knowledge and patience to find them.

Search engines are a good place to start. Though Google remains the most popular and effective, not every site is listed on the search titan. Try running the same search on multiple engines: AltaVista, Dogpile, Yahoo, and MSN Search are just a few of the many options out there. (And if you really want to start out big, you can run a search for search engines first, then check each one in turn.)

Here are a few examples:

?public domain work examples

?list of free public domain work

?free public domain books

?public domain web site

A note of caution: don't trust everything you read on the internet. Always find out where the web site owner got the information (for example, you can probably trust data from the Library of Congress, but not from my next door neighbor Bubba who runs a successful business out of the trunk of his car.). Generally, if the same title shows up in multiple searches, it's probably public domain.

You can also find forums, message boards and e-groups dedicated to public domain news and discussions. Check Internet directories or do a search for "public domain forum" (also: substitute group, list, board, news, or community for "forum") and you'll discover more information than you will need. Be sure to visit groups, lists and forums, before joining read through some of the posted messages and member profiles to determine whether the other people involved seem easy to talk with and open to new members with lots of questions. The Internet community is often a wonderfully supportive place to find people with similar interests, and most are willing to share the experiences they've gained.

A few of the many public domain resource sites available:

Classic Book Library: A free online library featuring literary and genre novels in the public domain, from authors such as Jules Verne, L. M. Montgomery, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Viewable chapter by chapter in HTML.

Project Gutenberg: An enormous collection of novels, non-fiction books and other written work in the public domain, all available free in downloadable e-book format.

RetroFilm -com: Provides a catalogue of public domain movies, television shows, cartoons, musicals, documentaries and more. The site serves television broadcast companies and does not provide copies of film footage for individuals, but it is a great place to find titles which you can then track down a copy of elsewhere.

Public Domain Report: The site of a monthly newsletter that reveals significant works as they enter the public domain. Each issue features selections and samples from a variety of medium, at least one new book, film, play, song, image, and children's work are included every month, from well-known authors, artists and creators like Dorothy Parker and George Gershwin. A one-year subscription will set you back $395, but for those who don't have the time or inclination to do extensive research themselves, it is an excellent source of fresh material.

Public Libraries

Libraries are an excellent and free resource for finding public domain material. Pick a subject that interests you and scan the shelves for older books relating to the topic, or spend an afternoon browsing through the card catalogue. Most of the time, the publication date is right near the beginning of the listing on the card, so identifying works published before 1923 is a simple matter.

Most librarians are quite knowledgeable about their library's collections and are happy to help you find exactly what you're looking for. If you're planning a visit to the library, it's advantageous to make up a list of questions regarding the object of your search and approach the librarian before you do anything else, particularly if you are going to a small local library. Larger state-run library and university library staff members may not have the time or resources to devote personal attention to every patron.