Editorial Standards
Purpose of the catalogue
AFOJI Public Domain Literature Library provides editorial context for public-domain works, helping readers discover and engage with texts that are freely available. The catalogue does not host texts but offers reading notes, thematic guides, and background information.
Scope and selection
The catalogue includes 96 books from Project Gutenberg, selected for their literary or historical interest. Works are chosen to represent a range of genres, periods, and authors, with an emphasis on lesser-known or underappreciated texts alongside classics. No single work is excluded for ideological reasons; the aim is breadth, not dogma.
Source attribution
All texts are sourced from Project Gutenberg, a volunteer-driven repository of public-domain ebooks. Each book record includes the publisher credit. The catalogue does not alter the source texts or their attribution.
Bibliographic records
Each record includes title, author (with birth and death years when available), publisher, keywords, and a target-reader field. These are taken directly from the source or derived from standard library metadata. The catalogue note is original editorial content, based on excerpts from the work.
Category assignment
Categories are thematic groupings designed to aid navigation. They are not definitive literary judgments; some works could fit multiple categories. Assignment is based on the work's dominant subject, tone, or historical context, as inferred from the catalogue note and keywords.
Editorial reading context
Each catalogue note is derived from a reading of excerpts cited in the note itself. Notes focus on authorial choices—diction, structure, narrative voice—rather than plot summary. They are intended as starting points for the reader, not comprehensive analyses.
Edition facts and text measurements
No detailed edition facts or text measurements are provided beyond what is supplied by Project Gutenberg. The catalogue does not verify text length or edition history independently.
Recommendations and related works
Recommendations are made based on thematic or stylistic similarities noted in the editorial guides. They are suggestions, not authoritative pairings. Related works are not exhaustively listed.
Corrections and reader reports
Readers may submit corrections or suggestions via the contact page at /contact-us. The editor reviews submissions and updates records when warranted. No formal peer review process is in place.
Public-domain limitations
All works in this catalogue are in the public domain in the United States. Readers outside the U.S. should verify local copyright status. The catalogue does not guarantee legal reuse for any specific jurisdiction.
Accessibility and readable presentation
The catalogue uses semantic HTML and avoids inline styles or scripts. Fragments are designed to be embedded in a larger site with consistent styling. No images or tables are used to ensure text-based accessibility.
Independence and editorial responsibility
The catalogue is edited by Agatha Whitman, based in the United Kingdom. It operates independently of Project Gutenberg and any other institution. Editorial decisions are made by the editor alone, guided by the principles of accuracy and usefulness.
What the catalogue does not claim
The catalogue does not claim peer review, legal certification, university affiliation, or professional librarian credentials. It does not assert that every book has been read in full. It does not mention AI, language models, or SEO strategies. It does not use promotional clichés or exaggerated claims about the collection.
Ongoing maintenance
The catalogue is updated periodically as new public-domain works are added or existing records are revised. The editorial staff consists of a single editor; updates may be infrequent. Readers are encouraged to return for new content.