NEW YORK — Starbucks is adding free books, news and entertainment to its Internet offerings starting today.

The coffee chain’s new digital network promises customers free e-books, movies and other exclusives, including free access to some paid Web sites such as The Wall Street Journal. The freebies are meant to get customers spending more on drinks and on content they buy through the site.

Customers will see the network as soon as they connect to Starbucks’ Internet on their smart phones, computer or tablets, such as the iPad. A welcome page allows customers to scroll through various sections including entertainment, wellness, business and careers, and “my neighborhood,” where they can find community news, restaurant reviews and more.

Most of the free content can be read or viewed only in Starbucks. The content was designed so it could be consumed in small doses, from five to 20 minutes. That way, people either want to buy the content outright to take with them, or return to Starbucks again. The sites were designed to remember where people leave off in a book or a movie, so picking it back up is seamless.