CCEL is always looking for volunteers to read/record audio books in MP3 format. Volunteers might be surprised how little technical experience is involved, and recording books is a valuable resource for many of our members who are visually impaired or enjoy listening to audio books.

Getting Started

To get started, find a book in the CCEL that you would like to read, setup a microphone and a recording program on your computer, and read a small section of the book to create an MP3 file. Email us the sample file at ccel@calvin.edu, and we'll listen to it and possibly provide some feedback. Any book at CCEL that does not already have an MP3 version (and books that are already reserved; see below) could be recorded, but it might be a good idea to check this complete listing of CCEL MP3 files of MP3 books available at CCEL to make sure your recording work is not done in vain.

You can download free Software for recording such as Audacity.

You may need a microphone if you computer doesn't have one built-in. Some can be purchased for less than $5, but we suggest getting a microphone in the $20+ range if possible.

When you create the recording, ensure that you are saving the file as an MP3. It's probably a good idea to listen to an audio book introduction as you'll need to include this with your recording. We ask that the introduction include a brief greeting, your name, the title and author of the book, and mention that you are recording the book for CCEL/Christian Classics Ethereal library. It would be nice to include the date, but I think this information is missing from most of the introductions. Here's a link to an audio book that one of our volunteers recorded for CCEL: The True Vine.

Contact us at ccel@calvin.edu if you have questions.

SUGGESTIONS of Books to Record

* Consider recording one of Spurgeon's Sermons for your first attempt at recording a book for CCEL. Note that some of these sermons have been recorded already.

*We've had a request for The Life and time of Jesus the Messiah,

*We've also had a request for Augustine's On the Trinity. /ccel/schaff/npnf103

Audio Book reservations (Books that are currently being recorded)

Victor reserved Plain Account of Christian Perfection (Wesley) on 11/13/19

Leighton Garner has reserved the follow sermons of Charles Spurgeon: Sermon 2419, Year 1856, Repentance after Conversion. (6/30/2018).

Tom Reeder has reserved Luther’s Small Catechism and Luther’s Large Catechism. (12/15/2017).

Cynthia has reserved Person and the Work of the Holy Spirit by R. A. Torrey AND Lord's Table by Andrew Murray [6/29/2017].

Brother Mark has reserved On The Divine Names and Mystical Theology by Dionysius the Areopagite [5/6/2017].

Linda has reserved Waiting on God by Andrew Murray. [November, 2017].

Tracy has reserved Purpose in Prayer.

Lynn has reserved The Kneeling Christian (5/2/2014)

Rene LaCroix has reserved Life and Death of Mr. Badman by John Bunyan and At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald. (6/16/2016)

Recently Completed Audio Books

(complete listing of CCEL MP3 files)

Mark Green has completed the following books:

1) Epistle to the Romans by Ignatius (10/25/2019)

2) On the Holy Spirit by St. Basil (10/22/2019)

R James Freidrich has completed the following books:

1) On the Veiling of Virgins by Tertullian (10/22/2019)

2) To His Wife by Tertullian (10/22/2019)

Kevin Spalding recorded the following books:

1) Rule of St. Benedict by St. Benedict

2) Uniformity With God's Will by St. Alphonsus

3) Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis of Sales

4) Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius of Loyola

5) On Cleaving to God by Albert the Great

6) Dark Night of the Soul bySt. John of the Cross

Leighton Garner has completed the following books:

1) Spiritual Progress (also called Spiritual Letters) in 5 parts by 3 authors. This section has writings by Pere La Combe.

2) Spiritual Progress (also called 40 Spiritual Maxims ) in 5 parts by 3 authors. This section has writings by François Fénelon.

3) On the Christian Life by John Calvin.

4) Westminster Shorter Catechism (anonymous)

5) Gospel Grounds and Evidences of the Faith of God's Elect by John Owen

6) Select Spurgeon sermons including the following:

• #20 1855 "The Carnal Mind is Enmity Against God"
• #73 1856 "Effectual Calling"
• #135 1857 "Presumptuous Sins"
• #1043 1872 "Glorious Predestination"

Linda has completed the following books:

1) Miscellaneous Pieces by John Bunyan (March 2017)

2) Working for God! by Andrew Murray (November 2017)

Mark Dextraze recorded the following books:

1) Life of God in the Soul of Man by Henry Scougal(6/25/14)

2) The Cloud of the Unknowing [anonymous](9/30/2014)

3) The Mind's Road to God by Bonaventure. (9/30/14)

4) Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvauz by St. Bernard of Clairvaux. (July 9, 2015)

5) Ascent of Mount Carmel by St. John of the Cross. (November 8, 2016)

6) Spiritual Canticle of the Soul and the Bridegroom Christ by St. John of the Cross. (January 20, 2017)

Philip Hardin recorded the following books:

1) Death's Duel by Jonn Donne(9/30/2017)

Rene LaCroix has completed the following books:

1) Comfort for Christians by A.W. Pink

2) Golden Grain by John Wright Follette

3) The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink

4) The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray

5) The Monkey Who wouldn't Kill by Henry Drummond

6) The Person of Christ: Miracle of History by Pilip Schaff

7) The True Vine by Andrew Murray

8) The Antichrist by A. W. Pink

9) The Two Covenants by Andrew Murray

Rich Strange has completed the following books:

1) Christian's Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith (8/11/2015)

Tracy recorded the following books:

1) Centuries of Meditations by Thomas Traherne

*1st Century by Thomas Traherne (completed 2/16/15)

*2nd Century by Thomas Traherne (completed 3/12/15)

*3rd Century by Thomas Traherne (completed 11/11/16)

*4th Century by Thomas Traherne (completed 11/12/16)

*5th Century and notes by Thomas Traherne (completed 6/25/15)

2)Weapon of Prayer by Edward M. Bounds (2/3/2016)

3) The Master's Indwelling by Andrew Murray (9/13/2016)

4) Necessity of Prayer by E.M. Bounds (2/8/2017)

5) At the Master's Feet by Sadhu Sundar Singh (completed 12/12/17)

6) Purpose in Prayer by Edward M. Bounds (completed 3/2/2020)