There's a terrific service that your local public library works with called ProQuest/Safari Books. The web site allows you access to the full text of many technical books from the top publishers.
Great books on web design, Office, PHP, XML, CSS, graphic design, Adobe products, Linux, Visual Basic, C++, C# and on and on.
You can find the site at
ProQuest Information and Learning - Home Page and just contact your local public library for access to this amazing wealth of knowledge that is totally free!
Regards,
Tony