LibriVox is an organization dedicated to finding literary works which have fallen into public domain and making readings of them to share with the world. Volunteers do the recording.
Works in the public domain are those whose copyrights (in U.S. law) have expired or been allowed to lapse. They can be used freely by the public, (hence the name).
I find this quite commendable.
Once a detractor of audiobooks, (and first burned by bad readings), I have found them extremely helpful in my more recent circumstances, whether being too physically busy or physically incapable to do much reading or writing.
And with LibriVox , there are no ads!
The LibriVox recordings are well done, with feeling, but more of true readings than performances. With a little guidance and your own computer, anyone can record in any language, and many do.
I have, so far, heard few of any accents other than several which are American and a number done in mid-upper class English accents, but there are others, if you listen for them. I have so far not heard any that have not been read well.
Many of the books are chosen from Project Gutenberg and the Internet Archive.
Project Gutenberg is also a volunteer organization which preserves books in the public domain, but in digital form and it makes them freely available online. I have not spent anywhere near enough time in its extensive library. I may need a decade to do it justice.
The Internet Archive is a wondrous site, or to be more precise, a collection of many sites. (LibriVox is only one of the sites easily clicked from the main page.)
In its own words, The Internet Archives is: a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more.
There are also links to library sites in other countries, (mostly England and many in Scotland, where, if you read my post on libraries, you’ll know the idea of communally shared books basically began). There are links to many college and university libraries.
Most of the sites offer films, text and audio in English; you can find a few in other languages, as well.
In the Archive pages you can also discover medical texts, mathematics, video games, sports clips, and so many sites that I even found this, a photo on the NASA site of my father-in-law flying to recover the Apollo 7 capsule:
Old-time radio shows can be heard, as well as music. One site is dedicated to digitalized 78 rpm and CYLINDER recordings, another of comedy films; (you click on a box with Chaplin to reach that one).
I fear that I must truly limit myself, tethered by a life-line of timer or a something like a pot about to boil, or I may get lost in the intricacies of the site upon site in the Archives.
Do any of these pique your interest?
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
I think I would be overwhelmed by just jumping in, but if I needed a specific piece of information and was able to find it, I’d be ever so thankful. I guess that’s why I hate shopping – when I go, I’m looking for something specific rather than browsing around until I see something I like. Anyway, kudos to all the volunteers for putting this all together!
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That’s exactly how I feel about Pintrest!
The BOOKS! Of, when I can really start reading again without pain, You’ll know where to find me!
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Yes, very commendable. anything that preserves literature in whatever format is aces in my book.
When I was in library grad school in 1976-77, one of my first tours of the LA State Library included a stop at a sound booth, where they coordinated volunteers to sit and read books to be recorded on tape — also on vinyl records in the early days — for the division of the blind and physically handicapped. For many of those people (in the much earlier days of technology) this was the only format which could deliver books to them.
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“Talking Books”! I remember them well; they were recorded on an unusual speed and could only be played on special players,(as was some music). These were available free for the blind or those with severe sight limitations. Amazing how far technology has come. So many books/movies/works are out-of-print and would never be able to be found if it were not for the organizations which I mentioned.
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I didn’t recall the variance in speed, but I knew they’d only play on special equipment… which was also loaned free to library clients who had a doctor’s paperwork.
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What a wonderful resource. I hope lots of people know about it.
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I’m spreading the word, Elaine!
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Oh wow I didn’t know about any of these sites! I’ll have to look into them. Quin will find the LibriVox very useful this school year. He struggles with reading though he truly enjoys books so having audio books on hand so that he can listen and follow along is extremely beneficial to him. I’m sure many of the books he will have to read this year will be found on there. Thank you so much for sharing about this!
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My pleasure, Angie! Glad to help.
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