I love Librivox.org, the nonprofit site where volunteers record audiobooks books in the public domain. However, it can be a chore to find the best readers. So I’ve been collecting my favorite Librivox books, to send to people who might enjoy them.
I had the idea of creating “Little Free Librivox Libraries” featuring cards that people can leave/take, printed with QR codes to some of the best readings on Librivox. You can download and print your own LFLL, or find an ongoing list of links to my favorite Librivox reads further down on this page. Feel free to post an LFLL on a local bulletin board or in your workplace!
PRINTABLE LFLL POSTER: This printable poster has QR codes for a few books and background info. If you print a box and cards, you can peg them right on top of the “More Free Audiobooks” card when installing on a bulletin board. Or just print the poster and post as is in your local cafe, library, coffeehouse, workplace, campus, or hangout!
PRINTABLE LFLL CARDS: The LFLL card layouts below are intended to “work and turn,” meaning print the front, flip it SIDE TO SIDE, then print the back. (Or you can print just one side and fold the sheet down the middle but that’s not as fancy) These layouts are intended for Avery perforated business card stock, or print on regular paper and trim yourself. (The outer edges of the pages should be trimmed—Trim 1/2″ off top and bottom; 3/4″ off sides—before cutting the cards apart.
The “General” layout links to THIS PAGE. The others link to individual books on Librivox.org.
PRINTABLE HANGING BOX: This is a hanging business card box that you can print if you want to put up your LFLL on a local bulletin board. It holds about 12 cards. (Score and fold the dashed lines and cut the solid lines. Add a sticker or tape on the back. NOTE: The tab/slot is kind of fiddly, so just ignore it unless you don’t have any tape, sticker or adhesive!)
This is an (occasionally updated) list of my own personal favorite readers:
- Mil Nicolson, works of Dickens & more.
Nicolson really brings out the humor in Dickens!
Great Expectations
The Old Curiosity Shop
Oliver Twist - Tim Bulkeley, works of Wodehouse & more.
Bulkeley’s accent makes Bertie & Jeeves sound just right!
A Man of Means
Uneasy Money
Three Men and a Maid
(He also reads Stalky and Company, my favorite Kipling book.) - Peter Yearsley, Lewis Carroll, Jerome K Jerome & more
Wonderful reader with a sleepy, relaxing tone.
Alice in Wonderland and Three Men on the Bummel - Noel Badrian
Perfectly dry delivery for the driest British humor
Cranford
Youth-appropriate* but still great for adults
*In old books you will encounter attitudes/words that are shocking, even horrifyingly offensive, to modern ears. When I come across archaic language and depictions of race, class and gender, I see it as opportunity to learn and appreciate how much things have changed.
I recommend previewing any book you recommend to a child, and discussing troubling words or themes.
- Karen Savage juvenile literature & more
Her youthful voice is deft with accents and funny characters
The Railway Children
The Treasure Seekers
Anne of Green Gables - Adrian Praetzellis
A pleasant storytelling voice with distinct & fun characters
The Wind in the Willows
Treasure Island - Alan Chant and Hazel Chant
Lovely British reading tag team
The Wouldbegoods (the sequel to E. Nesbit’s children’s story, The Treasure Seekers)
SLEEPY SELECTIONS from reader Peter Yearsley
I keep these books queued up for insomnia attacks, because Yearsley’s voice, while he was a fantastic reader who could make ANY topic entertaining, is very soothing. On the topic of sleep-inducing reads, I also recommend the “Nothing Much Happens” podcast.
- “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” —Tell them the door mouse sent you!
- “About Orchids, a Chat” —5 star snooze!
- “Highways and Byways in Sussex.” —Proven effective as a sleep aid, yet somewhat informative. (Contains some brief passages of disturbing British historical content).
- “Three Men on the Bummel” — Very funny but also very sleepy!
- Making a Rock Garden” —Amusingly dull!
- “The Natural History of Selborne” — First rate mind numbing!
These are just a few tried and true selections, but a trove of beautifully read mundanity awaits you on Librivox. Next on my list, “A Textbook on Assaying” and “Ketchup.”
PROMISING RECOMMENDATIONS that I have not yet previewed:
TIP: Books read by one reader are generally more enjoyable than those read by a tag-team of volunteers. To find solo readings on Author’s Pages, select the “solo” link under Project Type (at top left of the author page)
- Nick Whitley, Trollope’s “Barchester Towers,” & others (British accent)
- Kirsten Ferreri, “Portrait of a Lady,” & others (American accent)
- THynes, “David Copperfield” & others (Irish accent)
- Phil Chenevert, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” & others (American accent)
- David Clarke, “The Count of Monte Cristo,” & others (British accent)
- Mark F. Smith, “Great Expectations,” & Huckleberry Finn (American accent)
- Andy Minter, works of Anthony Trollope, Arnold Bennett, & others (British accent)
- John Greenman, works of Mark Twain & others (American accent)
- Elizabeth Klett, works of Jane Austen & others (American accent)
- Bob Neufeld, Lots of Classics (American accent)
- Kate Follis (American accent)
- MaryAnn Spiegel (American accent)
- Martin Geeson (British accent)
- Simon Evers (British accent)
- Martin Clifton (British accent)
- Ruth Golding (British accent)
- Nicholas Clifford (American accent)
- Helen Taylor (British accent)
- Kevin Green (British accent)
- David Barnes (British accent)
- Clive Catterall (British accent)
More Librivox Tips:
- Again, so important: to find solo readings, select the “solo” link under Project Type (top, left) on the author page.
- Bookmark a book on your device and stream chapter by chapter or download entire books to your device.
- In addition to these recommendations, you can search for other public domain readings on Librivox, and you can even volunteer as a reader if you like!
Enjoy! — Marla Goodman, graphic designer and art outreach activist, Bozeman Montana.