[Nfbk] Talking-Book Program Honors Pioneers for 100 Years of “Answering the Call”

[Joey Couch]

The Library of Congress
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Washington, D.C. 20540-1400

Voice: 202.707.2905
Fax: 202.707.9199
Email: pao at loc.gov
News from the Library of Congress

Contact: Jane Caulton (202) 707-0521

November 3, 2011
Talking-Book Program Honors Pioneers for 100 Years of “Answering the Call”
During a celebration of the Pioneers’ 100th anniversary as a volunteer
organization, the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of Congress today
presented a proclamation, recognizing the group’s role in serving
blind and disabled readers.

"Talented and dedicated Pioneers volunteers have repaired more than
3.6 million audiobook machines for NLS since 1960, keeping books
talking for blind and physically handicapped people. ... Pioneers have
saved United States taxpayers an estimated $216 million," noted the
proclamation, which was signed by Ruth Scovill, NLS acting director
and by Robert Fistick, deputy director.

John Brown, NLS Engineering Section head, presented the proclamation
at an awards ceremony during the Pioneers’ centennial meeting in
Boston, Mass.

"NLS is very appreciative of the time and effort these employees and
retirees from the telecommunications industry have committed to the
talking-book repair program," Scovill said. "They have helped people
with visual impairment and lack of dexterity continue to experience
the joy of reading."

The Pioneers organization, originally the Telephone Pioneers of
America, was founded on Nov. 2, 1911, at a meeting in Boston attended
by Alexander Graham Bell. Under the slogan "Answering the Call of
Those in Need," its members started repairing NLS phonographs in the
1960s, then cassette players in the 1970s and 1980s. Now Pioneers are
being trained to troubleshoot the new NLS digital talking-book
machines. About 1,000 Pioneers currently volunteer in the program,
serving the NLS network of cooperating libraries and their patrons
across the country.

For more information about the Pioneers, visit www.telecompioneers.org.
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
(NLS) of the Library of Congress administers the digital talking-book
and braille program, a free library service available to U.S.
residents or American citizens living abroad whose low vision,
blindness, or physical handicap makes reading a regular printed page
difficult. Through its national network of regional libraries, NLS
mails books and magazines in audio and in braille, as well as digital
audio players, directly to enrollees at no cost. Music instructional
materials are available in large print, braille, and recorded formats.
Select materials are also available online for download. More
information is available at www.loc.gov/nls/ or 1-888-NLS-READ
(1-888-657-7323).


-- 
Joey Couch
phone 606-216-8033.
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