Listen Forward: Audiobooks for Access
“In the United States, 54% of American adults read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level, and nearly one in five adults reads below a third-grade level.”
— The Policy CircleIn response to this widespread challenge, Audiobooks for Access is a student-led initiative founded to create a free, human-read audiobook library using public domain works from Project Gutenberg. The project aims to serve visually impaired, dyslexic, and low-income individuals, making literature more accessible to those most affected by reading barriers.
Who We Are
Audiobooks for Access was founded and is currently led by Mira Jaafar, a high school student based in Charlotte, NC. What started as a solo effort to help make books more accessible has grown into a student-powered initiative welcoming volunteers from across the country.We believe that anyone—regardless of age or experience—can make a difference with just their voice and a desire to help.
Why Volunteers?
This project is completely grassroots and unfunded, which means there’s no paid staff — just students and community members who care about making reading more accessible.We use volunteers because:- It empowers youth to contribute meaningfully.
- It keeps our initiative open, inclusive, and sustainable.
- It allows participants to earn service hours and develop skills in communication, literacy, and audio editing.
Volunteering
Audiobooks for Access welcomes volunteers ages 13 and up who have access to a microphone and an electronic device capable of producing clear audio recordings.Our growing library currently features over 50 narrated novels, poems, and short stories, with thousands more available through Project Gutenberg. To get involved:1. Browse the 75,000+ free eBooks on Project Gutenberg or any other book in the public domain.
2. Choose a title that hasn't been recorded yet.
3. Send a request to [email protected] with your selection.
4. Once approved, begin submitting your recordings to the same email address until your project is complete.
- Please find our recording guidelines here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oSo6dPy8p3kPZsqo4wZMQQ7pL_xFakR-XiGW9z9brZc/edit?usp=sharing
We track all verified volunteer hours in a Google spreadsheet and are happy to provide an official service letter for clubs, schools, or organizations upon request.
Our Audiobook Collection
We currently have a library of over 50 narrated novels, poems, and short stories, all recorded by youth volunteers and organized by genre, author, and length.The collection is housed in a public Google Drive folder and will be accessible to all. While we’re still finalizing organization and quality checks, the full launch is coming soon!Check back soon — we appreciate your patience as we prepare our first public release.
Join Our Leadership Efforts
Audiobooks for Access is currently led by a student organizer, but we’re building a leadership team of passionate youth interested in taking on a larger role in growing the project.We’re currently looking for:Chapter Leaders – to start and lead efforts at schools or in local communities
Executive Board Members – to help with volunteer coordination, audio review, outreach, and moreIf you’re interested in helping guide the future of this initiative, fill out this short google form to get started: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWM2PY55CIaYoL09SlS9IbrDle6yAPzTTFT08f20ygImzXLg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=108111083351563345884The form includes more information about the available roles and responsibilities. You’ll hear back from us within 2–5 business days.
Questions? Reach out any time at [email protected].