Editorial Standards
Purpose of the catalogue
TEQEW Public Domain Literature Library makes historic texts more accessible by providing editorial context—reading notes, thematic guides, and background information—for each of the 99 books in the collection. The catalogue serves readers who want to explore public-domain literature with informed guidance, whether they are new to a work or returning with fresh curiosity.
Scope and selection
The collection draws exclusively from Project Gutenberg's corpus of public-domain texts. Selections are based on literary merit, historical interest, and variety of form and subject. The 99 books span four broad categories, chosen to represent different periods, genres, and readerships. No individual work has been added or excluded for commercial or promotional reasons.
Source attribution
Every book record identifies Project Gutenberg as the source of the digital text. Where applicable, links to the original Project Gutenberg edition are provided. TEQEW does not modify the underlying text but adds editorial layers—notes, guides, and analyses—that are clearly separate from the source material.
Bibliographic records
Each book page includes the title, author(s), digital source (Project Gutenberg), a list of keywords from the MARC record, a target-reader description, and a supplementary catalogue note. The catalogue note highlights narrative structure, themes, and editorial observations based on reading of the text. No bibliographic information is fabricated or inferred beyond what appears in the supplied source data.
Category assignment
Books are grouped into four categories as navigation aids, not definitive literary judgments. Categories are based on broad thematic and formal affinities—childhood adventure, fantasy, speculative fiction, and social-historical fiction. A work may fit multiple categories; the assigned category reflects the most prominent aspect of its content and treatment. Boundaries are acknowledged as permeable, and notes clarify cross-category connections.
Editorial reading context
Catalogue notes are written from the perspective of a careful reader, not a specialist scholar. They aim to describe what the text does—its narrative voice, structure, patterns—without imposing external theories. Observations are grounded in evidence from the text itself, and the catalogue project avoids claiming exhaustive interpretation. The goal is to start a conversation, not to close it.
Edition facts and text measurements
Each catalogue note references the edition as provided by Project Gutenberg. No independent collation or textual criticism is performed. Where source text can be measured reliably, word count and estimated reading time may be provided as reading-scope information.
Recommendations and related works
Category pages recommend three books each, chosen for their representativeness and readability. Recommendations and groupings use catalogue metadata, thematic relevance, and collection scope. Related works may be mentioned in catalogue notes to contextualize a book within its genre or period.
Corrections and reader reports
Readers can submit corrections, questions, or suggestions via the contact page at /contact-us. Submitted corrections may be used to update catalogue records. No systematic errata list is maintained, but significant corrections may be noted in the relevant book page.
Public-domain limitations
All works in this catalogue are believed to be in the public domain in the United States. Copyright status may vary in other jurisdictions. TEQEW does not guarantee the legal status of any text for use outside the United States. Users are responsible for verifying copyright compliance in their own location.
Accessibility and readable presentation
The catalogue is designed for ease of reading on screen, with clean HTML formatting and clear typography. Editorial content uses section headings, lists, and emphasis to structure information. No images, scripts, or external resources are required for reading the editorial materials.
Independence and editorial responsibility
The catalogue is edited by the catalogue, based in Ireland. All editorial decisions are made independently, without influence from external parties, advertisers, or sponsors. the catalogue project's contact email is [email protected].
What the catalogue does not claim
The catalogue does not claim that every book has been read in full by the catalogue project—though most have been consulted substantially. It does not claim peer review, legal certification, university affiliation, or librarian credentials. Automated tools may assist with supplementary catalogue text; important bibliographic details should be checked against the cited source record. It does not contain advertisements, affiliate links, or promotional material for third parties.
Ongoing maintenance
The catalogue is periodically reviewed and updated. New books may be added, and existing notes revised to improve clarity or accuracy. This standards document is subject to revision as practices evolve. The current version reflects the editorial approach as of the catalogue's publication date.