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The Library
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Free tools

Free tools for readers: reading time, citations, quotes and more

Fifteen small tools for anyone who reads, studies or teaches the classics. They work in your browser, with no sign-in and no ads, in 25 languages.

  • No sign-in
  • No ads
  • Nothing to install
  • 25 languages

Plan your reading

  • How long to read a book

    Hours for the most-read classics at a slow, average and fast pace, with words, pages and level.

    Find a reading time

  • Reading level checker

    Paste a passage to see its reading grade and whether it is Easy, Medium or Challenging.

    Check a passage

Cite and find

  • Citation generator

    Cite a classic in MLA, APA or Chicago in one click, or cite any page of this site.

    Make a citation

  • Where is this quote from?

    Type a few words of a famous line to find who wrote it and where it comes from.

    Find a quote

Play with words

  • Shakespeare translator

    Turn a sentence into Shakespeare's English: thee, thou, doth and hath.

    Translate a sentence

  • Old English translator

    Names, greetings and mottos in the language of Beowulf, word by word.

    Try Old English

  • Shakespearean insult generator

    A new insult made from words in his plays, with one tap.

    Make an insult

  • Guess the book from its first line

    One famous first line a day and four books to choose from.

    Play today's line

Every day

  • Poem of the day

    A classic poem in full each day, with what it means line by line.

    Read today's poem

  • Story of the day

    A classic short story in full each day, short enough for one sitting.

    Read today's story

Make and print

  • Bookplate maker

    Ex libris bookplates with your name: a sheet of twelve to print on label paper.

    Make bookplates

  • Reading certificate maker

    A certificate with a reader's name and the book, one page each, to print at home or in class.

    Make a certificate

For your website, class page or library guide

  • Book, quote and reading-time cards

    A small card for a blog, class page or library guide: a book with its cover, a quote with its source, or how long a book takes to read. Copy one line of code.

    Make a card

Open data

Tables with a CSV file each, free to use with a credit.

  • Reading time and level of the classics

    Words, minutes to read and reading grade of the classics people search for most.

    See the table

  • The classics each country searches for

    The hundred most searched classics in 25 languages and 41 markets.

    See the table

Questions

Are the tools really free?

Yes. Every tool on this page works without paying, without signing in and without ads.

Do I need an account?

No. Open a tool and use it; there is nothing to sign up for and nothing to install.

Can I use the results in my work?

Yes. Citations, cards, certificates and bookplates are yours to use. For the data tables, please credit Library of Alexandria with a link.

Can I link to a tool from my class page or library guide?

Yes, please do. Every tool has its own address that opens the same for everyone.