3,000 free audio books!
It was on this day in 2005 that the “acoustical liberation of books in the public domain” began. LibriVox, the internet’s repository of free, volunteer recorded, public domain audio books was launched five years ago by, Hugh McGuire, a Canadian-based writer and web developer. In five short years, the all-volunteer LibriVox community has cataloged over 3,000 works, representing over 25 languages. The website has over 24,000 registered users. The LibriVox catalog includes a notable array of short stories, novels and poetry, as well as non-fiction works. In the catalog you will find classics ranging from Oscar Wilde to Louisa May Alcott and Thomas Paine to Aristotle. You’ll also find a project I narrated a few chapters for: The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. The most recent addition to the LibriVox catalog is the X Minus One Project, an anthology of science fiction stories which were originally adapted for the 1950′s American radio drama series X Minus One.
The concept is simple, the process is multifaceted, and the outcome tremendous. LibriVox takes books that are in the public domain (generally published in the US before 1923 and thus the copyright has expired) and makes them into audio books that then are released back into the public domain. Suggestions for titles to produce come from members of the LibriVox community. Volunteer coordinators manage the project with additional volunteers lending their voices to the recording. After all the chapters have been narrated and edited, the entire work is assembled and entered into the LibriVox catalog for the world to access, free of charge. The extensive LibriVox audio book catalog includes files available in MP3 and OGG formats.
You don’t need to be a professional narrator to volunteer. All you need is a passion for the written and spoken word, a computer, audio software (many free options) and a microphone. If you don’t want to lend your voice, there are many other ways you can support the initiatives of the LibriVox community. See the volunteer page for more information.
Congratulations LibriVox on five successful years! Here’s to many more classics becoming new works of art accessible to all…
2 Comments to 3,000 free audio books!
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As an important device in the world of audio engineering and voice-over (VO), the VU Meter serves as the inspiration for monitoring and measuring the voice-over industry over time via the "VO Meter" blog. Subscribe to the “VO Meter” via RSS feeds or receive email updates and be treated to a bit of voice-over history and trivia with each entry.
Blog Author: Kevin Readdean, Voice Talent, KevinsVoice.com
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December 1, 2010 - 3,000 free audio books!
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July 31, 2010
Thank you for promoting librivox.org. I have been honored to narrate for this amazing org over the past few years. The community is entirely supportive and the potential for personal and professional growth as a narrator honing your skills is a wonderful blessing.
On the other side of the equation, librivox.org provides something so precious, through the passionate support of all those who volunteer to bring PD works to the listening world.
How cool is that , I will keep the site in mind