Baekur.is was launched in 2010 by the National and University Library of Iceland. The website aims to make digital reproductions of Icelandic books available — from the beginnings of printing to around 1900 and beyond. The National Library has already digitized all Icelandic books in its collection up to 1844, when printing was transferred to Reykjavík, and work continues on volumes published from the mid-nineteenth century onward. Many more recent works have also been added to the site with permission from copyright holders.
The purpose of baekur.is is to promote Icelandic culture by providing online access to published Icelandic material, both domestic and international. In doing so, the project enhances services to users by allowing them to explore the material anytime and anywhere. Another key goal is to ensure the long-term preservation and protection of these works by reducing the need to handle the original copies.

Number of books per decade on Bækur.is