Support FPL when Purchasing Audiobooks from Amazon
Downloadable Suggestions from FPL!
As of January 31st, 2009, FPL will no longer offer Overdrive Audiobooks as part of our collection.
However, we know that the service is important to you, so we have a compiled a number of ways to download audiobooks and e-books - for free. And you can always browse our books-on-CD/tape collection or check out our selection of Playaway audio books, both in the library and through our catalog.
Here are two main avenues FPL recommends for free audiobooks - Libraries and Websites:
- Libraries will have new books, read by professionals and there may be a wait associated with checking the e-books out. You usually have to install software to download the books.
- Websites will have books in the public domain ("classics" and books by authors who have allowed the rights to be used on the Internet), are sometimes read by professionals, and there is generally no wait associated with them. You may have to have some technical knowledge to download the books, but you generally don't have to use software to get the files.
Websites
- LibriVox
LibriVox is the most reputable provider of free e-audio content on the Web. They are constantly adding titles and have some really great readers. You can even volunteer to read a book or two! - Project Gutenberg
Although Project Gutenberg is most famous for its incredible catalog of e-books, they are growing their collection of downloadable audiobooks, too! - Open Culture
Open Culture has a smaller collection of audiobooks for download, but it also has a number of other items that might also interest you: university lectures, foreign language lessons, as well as lots of podcasts in a variety of subjects. - Lit2Go
Lit2Go is a service of Florida's Educational Technology Clearinghouse, which basically means that the downloadable audiobooks are accompanied by lesson plans, ideas for critical questions and other teacher-friendly resources.
Libraries
- Orange County Libraries
If you like the Overdrive service and interface, Orange County Libraries provide free remote access to it. You'll need to apply for a FREE library card and pick it up at your nearest OCPL branch to get access to the e-resources. - San Francisco Public Library
SFPL e-cards are free to all California residents. You can fill out the online application here, get your number, and begin using all of the great e-stuff that SFPL has, including downloadable audiobooks. SFPL uses Netlibrary, which is an e-service that's different than Overdrive, so there may be titles here that you don't see there (and vice-versa).