Where To Find Public Domain Works (USA)

Where To Find Public Domain Works

The third most popular question about the public domain (what is the public domain and
how can I make money from the public domain are the top two) is:

Where do I find public domain works?

As you know by now, the public domain is essentially a huge network of copyright-free
resources that are literally at your disposal to use as you wish (within the bounds of law, of
course). The real kicker comes in when some newbie first hears about the public domain,
fires up Google (insert your choice of search engine here) and types in ‘Public Domain’ (or
the more refined searcher may type in: ‘where to find public domain works’). The answer?

I’ll save you the trouble. A jumble of listings that tell you bits and pieces of the story. Most
of them don’t have any public domain materials in them at all.

When searching for public domain materials to use in your business, try using the
following top 10 internet resources for this task:

1. The Library of Congress - http://www.loc.gov/

The Library of Congress is perhaps the greatest reference resource on the Internet,
and as such is a goldmine for public domain works.

2. Free Online Books from UPenn http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/ - A large
collection of free online books that you can use immediately.

3. Virtual Theater http://www.vl-theatre.com/list4.shtml - An online repository of free
plays that you can use.

4. Literature.org http://www.literature.org/ - THE literature website on the Internet. You
can find all sorts of classics here. Who knows, maybe you could open a publishing
house for old philosophy texts.

5. The Internet Archive http://www.archive.org/ - A digital library of Internet sites –
includes audio and video resources as well.

6. Ibiblio.org http://www.ibiblio.org/ - A self-proclaimed public’s library and digital
archive. Links to other public domain resources as well as an excellent collection of
resources as varied as Arts, Geography, History, Language, Science and a lot
more. A must-visit public domain resource.

7. The Internet Public Library http://www.ipl.org/div/books/ - A virtual library on the
Internet. Very extensive public domain resources.

8. Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/ - A de facto leader of the public
domain movement, this is a huge collection of online public domain works. The
books can be easily downloaded, and despite what Internet marketers might tell
you, this is a top-notch resource.

9. Wikipedia – Public Domain Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Public_domain_resources - Wikipedia is free,
reader-maintained encyclopedia. As such, it has a fantastic list of public domain
resources (And I’m indebted to this list to help provide many links in this book).

10. SearchGov.com http://www.searchgov.com/ - Helps you search all .gov
(government) websites for the topics of your choice.


About Ian del Carmen:

Ian del Carmen is the president and CEO of Fireball Planet Corporation.

Check out his blog at http://IanDelCarmen.com. Or visit Fireball Planet at http://FireballPlanet.com


Disclaimer:
The authors and publishers of this information and the accompanying materials have used their best efforts in preparing this article. The author and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this article. The information contained on this page is strictly for educational purposes. Therefore, if you wish to apply ideas contained in this article, you are taking full responsibility for your actions.

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Also Article For home based business opportunity seekers:

Looking to choosing the right work at home business

There is a important step to take after figuring out what a niche market is (see previous article "What Is a Niche Market Anyway?"). This step is finding a niche that is profitable. With a niche that is not profitable, a home based business will not last long. Let's discover how to find a profitable niche.


Step #1: Take a trip to your local library, Books A Million, Borders, or the like.


Step #2: Jot down topics that you observe with "How To" books like the "For Dummies" series.


Step#3: Look for books that are bestsellers year in and year out. Examples include job hunting books, sales letter books, self-improvement books, etc. Write down potential niche markets based on your research. For example, maybe you could write an ebook about tips on writing a business plan for real estate investors.


Step #4: Browse the magazine racks and take note of hobby related magazines.


Keep in mind that you are looking for a niche market that is:


1) Easily reached (if they have a magazine you can reach them)

2) Isn't so large that the field is crammed with competitors

3) Willing to spend money. You can check out the ads in hobby and trade magazines to discover the prices of objects of interests for a particular niche market.

4) Crazy and passionate about their hobby or interest. If someome actually creates a magazine, they typically are passionate!


Niche markets that I've seen by looking at the magazine racks are scrapbookers, quilting, collectibles collectors, and boat owners.


Always remember, you are building a foundation by looking for a market that is trying to buy a product or service.


A way to check out how many people are actually searching for a item or activity is to use keyword tools such as the Overture Suggestion tool at http://www.inventory.overture.com/, nichebot.com, Wordtracker.com. and Good Keywords.


Once you are in one of these sites, type in the following word "tutorial" and then copy and paste the results on a Excel spreadsheet.


Then, type in "guide" and copy and paste the results on a Excel spreadsheet as well.


There will be a huge amount of results which will show you exactly what people are trying to find related to "guides", "how to", and "tutorials"; in other words, you will see the exact information they are seeking. Once you know this, your job simply is then to offer them a product or service that will meet their need.


When the lists are developed, make note of potential products such as a guide on "how to plan a vacation". Other great words to use are "buy", "purchase", "learn", "problem", "want", etc. You will be amazed at the results.


Follow the above tips and be well on your way to targeting a highly profitable niche market.