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Openbooks
$9.00 / month with a 7-day free trial and a $1.00 sign-up fee
Web UI for IRC ebook downloads — search irc.irchighway.net without touching an IRC client.
A managed Openbooks instance hosted on ElfHosted. Search the IRC Highway #ebooks network via a clean web interface — type a title, pick a result, download direct to your browser or straight to rclone-mounted cloud storage. No IRC client, no DCC setup, no bots to configure. The oldest ebook source on the internet, with a modern front-end.
irc.irchighway.net's #ebooks channel has had more ebooks longer than any modern download site. Openbooks puts a search box in front of it so you never have to open mIRC.
What is Openbooks?
Openbooks is a self-hosted web interface for the IRC Highway #ebooks network — one of the oldest and largest IRC-based ebook repositories. Traditionally, accessing it required an IRC client, connecting to the server, requesting books from bots via commands, and handling DCC file transfers. Openbooks wraps all of that in a search box and a download button.
Search by title or author, pick from the results, and the file comes back to your browser or goes directly to your configured cloud storage. No IRC knowledge required.
Key Features
- 🔎 IRC ebook search: query the IRC Highway #ebooks network without an IRC client — Openbooks handles the connection, bot requests, and DCC transfer behind the scenes.
- ⬇️ Browser or cloud download: receive files directly in your browser for one-off grabs, or route them straight to rclone-mounted cloud storage for hands-off library building.
- ⚡ Fast transfers: IRC DCC transfers are direct peer-to-peer — often faster than web-based alternatives for the formats available on IRC.
- 📚 Broad format coverage: IRC Highway #ebooks carries EPUB, MOBI, AZW3, and PDF — classic formats well-suited for Kindle, Kobo, and ebook management tools.
- 🔄 Updates handled: ElfHosted keeps Openbooks current.
Openbooks vs Shelfmark — Which Ebook Downloader?
Both download ebooks. The difference is scope:
- Openbooks (this product) — IRC Highway only. One source, no configuration, works immediately. The right pick for fast one-off downloads when you know IRC Highway has what you want.
- Shelfmark — multi-source aggregator (web archives, torrent, Usenet, IRC). More sources, more results, more configuration. The right pick when you want to search everything at once or when IRC Highway doesn't have a particular title.
Many users keep both: Openbooks for quick grabs, Shelfmark when Openbooks turns up empty.
Why Run Openbooks on ElfHosted?
Openbooks connecting to IRC Highway works fine locally — but if you want downloads to land in cloud-mounted storage that Calibre Web or BookLore watches, co-location helps:
- Downloads route directly to your ElfHosted rclone-mounted cloud storage (Google Drive, Hetzner Storagebox, S3, etc.).
- The same storage your Calibre Web (Automated) or BookLore watches — books appear in your library without a manual import step.
- HTTPS on your own ElfHosted subdomain — access from any browser, from anywhere.
- Updates roll out without you touching anything.
Technical Specifications
- 🛠️ Software: Openbooks (FOSS)
- 🔍 Source: irc.irchighway.net #ebooks (IRC DCC transfers)
- 📥 Download destinations: browser download or rclone-mounted cloud storage
- 📚 Formats: EPUB, MOBI, AZW3, PDF (as available from IRC sources)
- 🔑 Subscription: none required
- 🌐 Access: hosted on your ElfHosted subdomain with TLS
- 🔄 Updates: handled by ElfHosted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I run Openbooks without self-hosting it?
Add it to your ElfHosted subscription — this product is a managed Openbooks instance with TLS and access to your rclone-mounted storage. No IRC client, no server setup.
Do I need an IRC account?
No. Openbooks manages the IRC connection internally. You use the web UI; Openbooks handles the IRC protocol, bot requests, and DCC transfer on your behalf.
How is this different from Shelfmark?
Openbooks searches one source — IRC Highway. Shelfmark searches many sources (web archives, torrent, Usenet, IRC) at once. Openbooks is simpler and faster for quick IRC grabs; Shelfmark is better when you want wider coverage or when IRC Highway doesn't have a specific title.
Can I send downloads straight to my ebook library?
Yes — configure a rclone-mounted cloud bucket as the download destination. If that bucket is what your Calibre Web (Automated) or BookLore watches, new books appear in your library automatically.
Does IRC Highway have good ebook coverage?
For mainstream fiction, popular non-fiction, and classic literature, coverage is generally solid. Niche technical books, very recent releases, or regional-language titles may be harder to find. Use Shelfmark as a fallback for wider coverage.
Hosted Openbooks puts the oldest ebook source on the internet behind a modern search box — type a title, click download, book lands in your library. No IRC client, no DCC configuration, no command-line bots. The fastest path to an IRC ebook download, hosted for you.
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Openbooks
Web UI for IRC ebook downloads — search irc.irchighway.net without touching an IRC client.
A managed Openbooks instance hosted on ElfHosted. Search the IRC Highway #ebooks network via a clean web interface — type a title, pick a result, download direct to your browser or straight to rclone-mounted cloud storage. No IRC client, no DCC setup, no bots to configure. The oldest ebook source on the internet, with a modern front-end.
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