Earlier this week I visited 7 public libraries in Bingham, Bonneville, and Jefferson counties to discuss the Talking Book Service. I enjoyed meeting with library staff and touring their libraries. I was impressed with the variety of resources available to persons unable to read standard print. Materials in large print, audio materials in both cassette and CD-Rom format, music, Playaways, and E-audio books are available in many collections.

Staff enthusiastically accepted outreach materials and information about the Talking Book Service in order to increase user access to materials not available locally. They also accepted TBS players so that TBS users requiring a replacement player can receive one from their local public library and not have to wait for a replacement player to be mailed from Boise. Staff involvement in their communities increases potential user knowledge of the Talking Book Service and gives them the chance to continue reading when physical limitations occur.

Once again I'm proud of the difference Idaho librarians make in their communities and invite all public libraries to share information about the Talking Book Service with their users.