Listening
to Talking Books has been a big and enjoyable part of my life
for the past 23 years. I am thrilled to be both a patron and a
Talking Books volunteer.” - Mrs. Millicent Nielsen
View
Photos from the 30th Anniversary
Talking Books Ceremony
This year we celebrate 30
years of Talking Books library service to the blind and
physically disabled residents of Palm Beach County. The Talking Books Sub-Regional Library
opened as part of the Palm Beach County Library System in July
of 1973, serving 389 patrons the first year. Today there are 11
Talking Books sub-regional libraries in the state, part of a
network of 150 libraries nationwide that make up the Library of
Congress’ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Disabled. For the past 15 years the Palm Beach County Library
System sub-regional has had the highest circulation of any in
Florida. In 2002 over 3000 library patrons listened to over
110,000 books.
In the 1970s, Talking Books were recorded
on 8 rpm and 16 rpm long-playing records. Audiocassettes were
introduced in 1977 and are now the main source of recorded
material including popular magazines. Next year, Palm Beach
County’s Talking Books service will add described videos of
feature films to the collection (videos that include voice
descriptions of action, wardrobe, and scenery). Within two years
many Talking Books titles will also be available on compact
discs. The Talking Books service provides special playback
equipment, furnished and replaced free of charge.
Talking Books are available to anyone who
is legally blind, visually impaired, or physically disabled so
that they are unable to hold a book, or has a reading disability
due to an organic dysfunction such as dyslexia. These
disabilities need not be permanent for an adult or juvenile to
qualify for the service. To obtain an application for Talking
Books Service, visit any Palm Beach County Library System
location or call the Talking Books Library at 561-649-5500 or
1-888-780-5151 toll-free.
Posted 11/03/2003
