LibriVox and Other (podcast-related) resources
Resources like LibriVox are described in the Podcast Audiobook Directory thread. (I've linked to the post that lists it; you have to scroll pretty far down to get to the entry). As Cloysterpeteuk suggested a few posts ago, people looking for free audiobook material should also be checking that thread.
One of the reasons for the split is that the podcast format used to imply regularly delivered episodes, available by subscription, and possibly only accessible for a limited period of time. Some of these sites have since evolved into access points with permanent or semi-permanent repositories, while continuing to remain available as podcast subscriptions. LibriVox is one of those sites. Another is Roy Trumbell's site which is a longer-term repository that is separate from the Story Spieler Podcast site that tracks his subscription podcasts. Some of the longer book-reading efforts from such sites are being deposited at Project Gutenberg's Audiobooks site (under the human-read category). As commented by david1951 much earlier in this thread, the better (higher bit-rate) quality audiobooksforfree.com recordings are available there (such as the various Sherlock Holmes stories).
Another effort similar to LibriVox's coordinated readings (by volunteers) is being carried out by LiteralSystems.org. The main distinction is that their works are available under the Free Creative Commons license - they remain free for use and distribution in this format, but a commercial vendor could not grab these up and start selling them to people in repackaged format, for example. LiteralSystems is another source for Gutenberg's audiobooks.
Many of these topics are discussed in separate forum threads. Some of the discussions that appear in threads like the present one have been stripped out by the moderators, so that it's easier for visitors to find the sites instead of having to wade through commentaries. Some sites are mentioned in posts about resources for the visually handicapped. The AssistiveMedia.org makes available copyrighted works read by volunteer readers (similar to the way LibriVox and LiteralSystems operates). These allow material from current periodicals and independent writers, on both fiction and non-fiction topics, to circulate in audio format under permission by the authors. There are podcasts (subscribe at this feedburner feed) in addition to the Reading Room archives and material at the web site. Here's an excerpt from their description:
Sites listed in this post:
Pappy and Holydoc,Pappy said:You guys are missing one of the great resources for free audiobooks on the web: LibriVox. It was barely mentioned above as a link but it deserves much more. This site has an ever-growing list of free audiobooks in mp3 (64k or 128k) and ogg format.
Resources like LibriVox are described in the Podcast Audiobook Directory thread. (I've linked to the post that lists it; you have to scroll pretty far down to get to the entry). As Cloysterpeteuk suggested a few posts ago, people looking for free audiobook material should also be checking that thread.
One of the reasons for the split is that the podcast format used to imply regularly delivered episodes, available by subscription, and possibly only accessible for a limited period of time. Some of these sites have since evolved into access points with permanent or semi-permanent repositories, while continuing to remain available as podcast subscriptions. LibriVox is one of those sites. Another is Roy Trumbell's site which is a longer-term repository that is separate from the Story Spieler Podcast site that tracks his subscription podcasts. Some of the longer book-reading efforts from such sites are being deposited at Project Gutenberg's Audiobooks site (under the human-read category). As commented by david1951 much earlier in this thread, the better (higher bit-rate) quality audiobooksforfree.com recordings are available there (such as the various Sherlock Holmes stories).
Another effort similar to LibriVox's coordinated readings (by volunteers) is being carried out by LiteralSystems.org. The main distinction is that their works are available under the Free Creative Commons license - they remain free for use and distribution in this format, but a commercial vendor could not grab these up and start selling them to people in repackaged format, for example. LiteralSystems is another source for Gutenberg's audiobooks.
Many of these topics are discussed in separate forum threads. Some of the discussions that appear in threads like the present one have been stripped out by the moderators, so that it's easier for visitors to find the sites instead of having to wade through commentaries. Some sites are mentioned in posts about resources for the visually handicapped. The AssistiveMedia.org makes available copyrighted works read by volunteer readers (similar to the way LibriVox and LiteralSystems operates). These allow material from current periodicals and independent writers, on both fiction and non-fiction topics, to circulate in audio format under permission by the authors. There are podcasts (subscribe at this feedburner feed) in addition to the Reading Room archives and material at the web site. Here's an excerpt from their description:
From the short story podcast sites, I'd recommend looking at Stories to Go and Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast. Here's the original descriptor of the first site.Excerpted from Assistive Media's Web Page
What Do We Do and How Do We Do It?
AM produces spoken-word recordings of short-subject literary works that are made easily accessible through the World-Wide Web. Currently, AM focuses on reproducing copyright-approved material from reputable mainstream periodicals (The New Yorker, Harper's, Wired, Scientific American, Atlantic Monthly, Civilization, Smithsonian, Granta and more) and independent writers; providing an eclectic mixture of interesting and educational material.
Sites listed in this post:
- LibriVox
- Project Gutenberg's Audiobooks
- Story Spieler
- LiteralSystems.org
- AssistiveMedia.org
- Stories to Go
- Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast
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