Access multimedia sources

As well as finding multimedia through your Library Search, you can access many other alternative sources elsewhere and there are some recommendations below. See our Access different formats via Library Search if you want to try looking in some of your library collections first. You may also wish to visit the Library's Video, Image and Sound collections information to find out about the full range of audio-visual resources available via the library as not everything can be found via Library Search.

Remember you can convert resources into alternative formats to suit your preferences. This means you do not always need to find a source in the format you would prefer initially as you may be able to change it.

Video

Video is a good alternative to reading. Some of the following are recommendations that can NOT be accessed by Library Search.

Box of Broadcasts is a collection of TV programmes available to all UK based students and staff. You can also request programmes to be recorded.
TED talks on a huge range of topics. TED advertises itself as 'a clearinghouse of free knowledge from the world's most inspired thinkers'.
Linked In Learning tutorials (Falmouth or Exeter university email required)
Khan Academy started out doing maths videos but their list now includes science, history, computer programming, grammar, art history and finance.
YouTube, which has plenty of useful content, as well as cat videos.

Audio

Audiobooks

Very few academic textbooks are available to buy as audiobooks.

However, if you can get the text in electronic format, you can use a free screen reader (such as Natural Reader Online) to hear it read out. Check out our text-to-speech page to find out more about this and other options.

Some audiobook sources:

Cornwall Library has a collection e-Audiobooks. Anyone living in Cornwall can use this service for free. If you live elsewhere your local public library is likely to have a similar service.
RNIB Bookshare has downloadable books in alternative formats (such as audio, braille, ePub or pdf) for readers with visual impairments and learning differences. Search for books here. Please email nichola.brown@fxplus.ac.uk to find out more or see the RNIB Bookshare fact sheet
Librivox provide free audiobooks read by volunteers. Other free sources of audiobooks can be found in the resources section below.
Blinkist offers condensed versions of popular non-fiction books, which can be read or listened to in about 20 minutes (subscription service)