Subregional Talking Book libraries provide free library services to local patrons who have visual and physical impairments that preclude them from reading regular print. The nine subregionals throughout state are being closed in favor of one centralized service located in Atlanta. We need to gather signatures to prevent further Talking Book libraries from closing.

What is Talking Books? It is a service for visually and physically impaired patrons, and patrons who have organic reading disabilities. These physical limitations prevent people from reading regular print; it may be too small or blocked completely, or the person may not be able to hold a book or turn pages. Talking Books was begun after WWI, to ensure that veterans injured and blinded in the war still had access to the reading material available to the rest of the population.

Many of the subregional Talking Book patrons are of part of an aging population that has limited access to, or ability on, computers. They get their books through their local subregional libraries where workers are familiar with them and can in large part anticipate their reading needs. Patrons can call their library with questions and orders, and can drop by or send a friend/relative if immediate service is required. Agency representatives can go in person to pick out books for their residents and clients. Schools can drop by for presentations and demonstrations of equipment and services available for the disabled. The existence of subregionals allows the service to be brought to the people.

This type of relationship and the ease with which problems are handled will cease to exist once the service is centralized. Picture the bureaucracies we are forced to deal with on a daily basis and apply that to a service designed to assist patrons who are blind and physically disabled. Our friends, neighbors and family deserve better than this should they need to take advantage of the Talking Books service now or in the future.