LibriVox: Free AudioBooks for All

Many free audiobook programs cater only to the blind. While it is nice that such programs give the blind free access to audiobooks, others could make use of audiobooks as well. LibriVox can be used by anyone. Maybe you are dyslexic, perhaps you just have trouble reading, or maybe you just prefer audiobooks to printed books despite having no trouble with reading at all.

Free Audiobooks: The Catch

It seems like everything has to have a catch and free audiobook websites are no exception. Some free audiobook sites I tried had poor quality recordings. Other free audiobook sites are basically just free ebooks read by a computer. That's not the case with LibriVox. On LibriVox, the recordings are of excellent quality and are read by skilled human readers. The catch is that the only books you'll find available are books in the public domain. Basically, this means that LibriVox is a good place to go find old classics, but you'll never see the latest books available. However, it wouldn't be legal if they put up audiobooks that were not yet in public domain. There are many excellent titles available currently, with more always on the way.

Finally, High Quality Recordings of Free Audiobooks

Generally, when you find free audiobooks, it seems like you find horrible quality recordings. The files are often the lowest quality mp3 files you could possibly have. On LibriVox, audiobooks are offered in mp3 and ogg files of outstanding quality. You won't be disappointed with the book you downloaded because of the quality.

Outstanding Volunteer Readers

While I've heard many people say that the volunteers on LibriVox are only amateurs and therefore not very good, I've found that most volunteers are excellent readers. When I go to the library and pick up a copy of a classic audiobook, the reading of it often disappoints me. However, I have yet to be disappointed on LibriVox. The volunteer readers are absolutely fantastic. If you happen to be a great reader and wish to volunteer, LibriVox is still looking for more readers.

Forums: How They Add to the Site

One thing that I really like about LibriVox is that they have forums. On the forums, you can see the review process taking place. One only needs to look at the forums to see the strict review process these books go through. If a volunteer has stuttered on one word in a chapter, it is noted and edited. If a volunteer leaves out a single word or misreads something, no matter how slight, it is edited. I am very impressed by all the volunteers involved in this wonderful project. On the forums you'll see readers, listeners, editors, and other volunteers actively discussing the books they are bringing to life. Even if you aren't a great reader or a skilled editor, you can post on the forums. There is a spot to suggest books as well, which is a great way to bring volunteers and the audiobook listening population closer together.

LibriVox provides an excellent service to the community of audiobook listeners. Whether you enjoy listening to an audiobook in the car, need to read a classic for school, or just want to listen to some classics, LibriVox is a site you should definitely check out. Audiobooks tend to be much more expensive that paperback books, discouraging many from reading them. Now the price barrier is removed. If you enjoy audiobooks, but don't enjoy paying for them, check out LibriVox.