So I've spouted off two links to free repositories of scripts/scores that have been reasonably popular lately, and I'm sure there's other online directories of free stuff and deals for artists, students and the generally destitute. Do you have a site or know of a program that would fit? Please share it with us here!
(Disclaimer: We have not tried all of these resources personally. We cannot promise that they will serve
you, that they are legit, or that the programs will continue for any particular span of time. We do try to avoid linking to site full of viruses and known scam sites, but inclusion here is not an endorsement from SMNetwork or any member unless explicitly stated in the thread.)
Mods, feel free to add new contributions to this post or just let them pile up, your call.
Literature, Scripts & Scoreshttp://imslp.org/ - International Music Score Library. Scores & Libretti with links to recordings.
http://diamond.boisestate.edu/gas/index.html - Gilbert & Sullivan Library at Boise State. All things G&S
http://www.simplyscripts.com/plays_a_h.html - Scripts. Many of them.
http://www.cpdl.org/ - Choral Public Domain library. Mostly short songs, no lengthy works.
http://www.wikifonia.org/browse - Lead sheets. Mostly new works by artists looking for exposure.
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page - Project Gutenberg. Free books, mostly classics
http://openlibrary.org/ - A wiki with the goal to make a page for every book ever published. They have an ebook lending library to help accomplish this goal.
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/ - Millions of free books.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/50-places-free-books-online.htm - Random guide to more free books.
Recordingshttp://musopen.org/ - Musopen - recordings and scores, focuses on the former.
http://www.jamendo.com/en/ - Jamendo - (mostly) royalty-free mp3, great for background music etc.
http://archive.org/details/etree - Live Music Archive. Does what it says on the box.
http://www.operacast.com/ - Not downloadable, but a decent calendar of internet radio broadcasts for opera
http://opera-mp3.blogspot.com/ - I have no idea how long this will remain online but it is AWESOME.
Assorted free stuffhttp://www.freecycle.org/ - I think everyone should know about these guys already, yes? Give something free, get something free.
http://www.actorsfund.org/ - for all performing artists, NOT JUST AEA Members.
http://www.ireuse.com/wishlistlanding.aspx - Create a wish list, and companies looking to reduce their carbon footprint may give their furniture to you instead of junking it. Nonprofits get free furniture.
http://www.nyfa.org/source/content/search/search.aspx?SA=1 - NY Foundation for the Arts"NYFA Source." Big directory of grants & free services for artists.
Tool Sharinghttp://www.neighborgoods.net/ --> eventually to become
http://www.favortree.com - Southern California sharing tools & gear between neighbors
http://www.hammertimeprojects.org -> Cooperative workshop in Fort collins, Colorado
http://groundworkprovidence.org/programs/tool-bank/ -> Providence, RI Tool sharing
http://toolbank.org/ -> Toolbank USA coordinates several local tool sharing and rental programs
HousingSeattleNew York (The Actors Fund)
LA (The Actors Fund)
Chicago (The Actors Fund)
http://www.couchsurfing.org/ - Short stays in people's homes worldwide
LIHEAP - US based program to help low-income folks with energy costs, especially heat & lights
SchoolUS Dept of Labor Scholarship SearchEducation department links to State Education programs101 Grants you've never heard ofServiceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteer_Lawyers_for_the_Arts - Wikipedia directory of state programs providing free legal services for artists. (Many fold in accountants, too.)
TechnologyMicrosoft Giving for Nonprofits and
Microsoft Student DealsApple Student DealsFor Union MembersUnionPlus - Search for union-only bennies