Oklahoma Library For The Blind

Thursday, June 14th 2007, 4:16 pm

By: News On 6

Volunteers were honored by the Oklahoma Library for the Blind at a special luncheon in Oklahoma City Thursday. The volunteers help in a wide variety of ways to get books on tape to blind people in Oklahoma. Several volunteers received awards for their hard work. News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports some call the library one of Oklahoma's best kept secrets that they want you to know about.

Nancy Cheper is one of the newest volunteers at the Oklahoma Library for the Blind. She's recording a book that will soon be available for people across Oklahoma to enjoy.

"I am an unabashed, unadulterated, unapologetic bookaholic," said Cheper.

Cheper combines that love of reading with the library's mission of improving lives of people who are blind or have other vision disabilities. Volunteers work with dedicated employees to record, edit and distribute books and magazines on tape to nearly six thousand people statewide.

Some are from the National Library of Congress, but many, especially books by Oklahoma authors or with an Oklahoma theme, are recorded in the Oklahoma City studios.

Paul Adams is the library's director.

"Novels, mysteries, romance, science fiction, you name it we've just about got it," said Adams.

The library also produces recorded instructional materials like textbooks and informational pamphlets.

The books on tape can be played on special machines provided by the Library for the Blind. The library sends out thousands of these books every single day.

The library will add another digital recording studio in the next 10 months which will enable them to record more books and magazines for the blind and to entertain, educate and enrich the lives of more people.

"If we can change their day and brighten their life in some way by being able to enjoy a good book or good magazine, then we've accomplished our mission," Adams said.

If you'd like to get the book on tape for you or someone you know, or to get more information on how to volunteer, you can call the library at 800-523-0288 or 405-521-3514.

Watch the video: Volunteers Help Get Books On Tape For The Blind

To visit the National Library, click here.

To visit the Oklahoma Library for the Blind, click here.