# Anna's Archive

> shadow library search engine

**Wikidata**: [Q115288326](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q115288326)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna's_Archive)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/anna-s-archive

## Summary

Anna's Archive was established on November 10, 2022.[1][2]

## Summary
Anna's Archive is a shadow library search engine that indexes books, journal articles, and magazines by aggregating content from sources like Z-Library. Founded in November 2022, it serves as both a metasearch engine and an alternative access point to digital content that may be difficult to find elsewhere.

## Key Facts
- Founded on November 10, 2022, with earliest archived webpage from that date
- Functions as a shadow library search engine, metasearch engine, and search engine
- Primary website is https://annas-archive.gl/, with alternative domains at annas-archive.pk/, annas-archive.vg/, and annas-archive.gd/
- Source code is licensed under Creative Commons CC0 License, with copyright status being "copyrighted, dedicated to the public domain by copyright holder"
- Aggregates Z-Library as a primary source while functioning as an alternative access point
- Has a Reddit community (r/Annas_Archive) and official Reddit username "AnnaArchivist"
- Maintains a Telegram channel (@annasarchiveorg) for news updates

## FAQs
### Q: What is Anna's Archive?
A: Anna's Archive is a shadow library search engine that indexes digital books, journal articles, and magazines. It functions by aggregating content from various sources, primarily Z-Library, and provides users with a metasearch capability to find digital content that might be difficult to locate through conventional means.

### Q: When was Anna's Archive founded?
A: Anna's Archive was founded on November 10, 2022, as evidenced by the earliest archived webpage from that date. The organization has since expanded with multiple domain alternatives and developed various platforms including Reddit, Telegram, and official blogs.

### Q: Is Anna's Archive legal?
A: The copyright status of Anna's Archive's source code is explicitly stated as "copyrighted, dedicated to the public domain by copyright holder" with no known copyright restrictions. However, the nature of shadow libraries and their aggregation of copyrighted content typically operates in a legal gray area, which is why the project maintains multiple domain alternatives.

### Q: How does Anna's Archive make money?
A: Anna's Archive operates on a donation-based model for its source of income. The organization maintains an official donation page at https://annas-archive.li/donate, suggesting it relies on community support rather than advertising or subscription fees.

## Why It Matters
Anna's Archive addresses the growing challenge of accessing academic and literary content that may be behind paywalls or difficult to find through conventional channels. By aggregating and indexing content from shadow libraries like Z-Library, it provides researchers, students, and avid readers with a centralized search tool that democratizes access to knowledge. The project's resilience—demonstrated by maintaining multiple domain alternatives and active social media presence—highlights the ongoing tension between open access to information and copyright restrictions. Its commitment to open-source development with CC0 licensing also contributes to the broader open access movement, potentially inspiring similar projects focused on knowledge accessibility.

## Notable For
- Functions as both a search engine and an alternative access point to shadow libraries, specifically aggregating Z-Library content
- Maintains multiple domain alternatives (gl, pk, vg, gd) as a resilience strategy against potential shutdowns
- Has developed a comprehensive social media presence including Reddit, Telegram, and official channels for direct community engagement
- Employs a metasearch approach that allows users to simultaneously query multiple shadow library repositories
- Is one of the few shadow library projects with a transparent organizational structure and active communication channels with users

## Body
### Organization Overview
Anna's Archive is classified as a website, shadow library, metasearch engine, and search engine. It operates primarily under the domain https://annas-archive.gl/, which has been designated as the preferred website since July 11, 2024. The organization also maintains alternative domains including annas-archive.pk, annas-archive.vg, and annas-archive.gd to ensure continued accessibility.

### Technical Details
The project's source code is hosted at https://software.annas-archive.li/AnnaArchivist/annas-archive and is licensed under Creative Commons CC0 License. An issue tracker is available at https://software.annas-archive.li/AnnaArchivist/annas-archive/-/issues/ for bug reporting and feature requests. The search functionality is accessible through a search formatter URL at https://annas-archive.li/search?q=$1, allowing users to construct direct search links.

### Social Media and Community
Anna's Archive maintains several active social media platforms:
- Reddit community (r/Annas_Archive) with username "AnnaArchivist" since November 16, 2022
- Telegram channel (@annasarchiveorg) for news updates, established April 7, 2023
- Official blog at https://annas-archive.li/blog/ (preferred), with alternative blog domains at pm and in extensions
- A translation contribution page at https://translate.annas-archive.li/ for community involvement

### Official Resources
The organization provides several official resources for users and potential contributors:
- Official donation page at https://annas-archive.li/donate
- FAQ page available through https://annas-archive.gs/faq?
- Descriptive information at https://annasarchive.info/
- Matrix room available at #annas:archivecommunication.org
- IM channel at annas:archivecommunication.org
- Trustpilot profile with ID "annas-archive.org" and company rating of 3.8

### Content and Indexing
As a shadow library search engine, Anna's Archive primarily aggregates content from Z-Library, a file-sharing site for journal articles, books, and magazines. It functions with high confidence (0.95) as both an aggregator and alternative access point to such content. The project also has entries in multiple Wikipedia language editions including English, German, Spanish, and others.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.whois.com/whois/annas-archive.org)
2. [Source](https://annas-archive.org/)
3. [Wayback Machine](https://web.archive.org/web/20241001000000*/annas-archive.pk)
4. [Wayback Machine](https://web.archive.org/web/20241001000000*/annas-archive.gd)
5. [Source](https://annas-archive.gs/faq?)
6. [Source](https://old.reddit.com/user/AnnaArchivist/comments/yznh7s/posted_a_pretty_technical_blog_post_for_those/)