Help:LibriVox

LibriVox logo

LibriVox is an online digital library of free public domain audiobooks, read by volunteers. The LibriVox objective is "to make all books in the public domain available, for free, in audio format on the internet."

Searching LibriVox

At the LibriVox Catalog enter the title and author (if known) of the text you wish to access. You may specify that the audio file need be complete/incomplete/other if you so wish by adjusting the status box.

Downloading from LibriVox

1. Either
   • Download from LibriVox or the Internet Archive
   • Use the URL2Commons tool
2. Upload to Wikimedia Commons if possible; if not, upload it to Wikisource.
3. Create a category if necessary

Wikimedia Commons is not entirely compatible with LibriVox's use of the public domain but Wikisource is. Wikimedia Commons adds an additional policy on top of United States law: Commons does not accept files that are not in the public domain in their home country. LibriVox and Wikisource both use the minimum legal requirement of United States law, so only the public domain status in the United States is relevant. Wherever possible upload LibriVox recordings to Wikimedia Commons; otherwise, upload them directly to Wikisource.

Which file format?

Librivox has audio files available in MP3 and Ogg formats. However, MP3 files should not be uploaded to Wikisource or Commons. Therefore, you should choose the Ogg format. This may require that you click the Internet Archive link on the Librivox audiobook page under the Links heading. You will then find the Ogg files listed at the Internet Archive.

Adding audio files to works

{{listen}} in header

{{media}} on author and/or portal pages

Editing LibriVox files

LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. They may be re-edited in any way. If it is necessary to edit a recording:

1. Make sure the original has been uploaded to either Wikimedia Commons or Wikisource.
2. Edit the file with audio editing software.
3. Upload your edited version to either Wikimedia Commons or Wikisource. Make a note on both this file and the original to link them together (for example, you can use the other versions field of the Information template.)