A wonderful “talking book” program is offered to Nebraska residents. A department within the Nebraska Library Commission, working with the Library of Congress, offers 59,000 book titles and 120 magazines. The book collection includes bestsellers, short stories, westerns, biographies, histories and romances.

To qualify for enrollment in this free service, one must no longer be able to read regular-size print because of a visual impairment or cannot hold a book and turn its pages. Persons suffering from a reading disability, such as dyslexia, can also qualify for this service.

Quite often, it is not the person in need who first inquires about this service. Instead, a relative or caregiver will initiate the process. The Columbus Public Library has the necessary form to be filled out and submit to the Library Commission in Lincoln. This form solicits the person’s address and phone number and inquires about former reading interests. An employee from the Commission’s “Talking Book and Brail Services” will then phone to inquire in greater depth about the person’s infirmity and the types of books or magazines the person likes reading.

Soon after the initial phone call, the client will receive a specially designed cassette player that has large buttons and headphones for private listening. The recorded listening materials will arrive on a regular basis and can be returned to the Library Commission free of charge in postage-paid mailers.

For patrons who can yet visit the Columbus Public Library, the selection of its recorded book collection—in either CD’s or audio tape---is extensive. You may checkout three listening books for a three-week period with an additional renewal, if necessary. The Library’s recorded books are played on either a regular tape player or CD player.

Of course, a person doesn’t need to be blind or physically handicapped to listen to great books on tape (or CD). Many patrons checkout the Library’s collection of listening books when they travel on business or must make a long journey by car. Some people listen to stories while doing housework or other mundane tasks such as interior house painting or gardening. I’ve listened to many books while on the stair stepper at the Columbus Family Y. Drudgery like climbing stairs for a half an hour goes by much quicker when listening to a good story.

Recent memorial donations given to the Columbus Library Foundation include one in memory of Jeff Barnes from Lucille Drake. Mr. and Mrs. Don Kiser presented a memorial in honor of Margie Kiser. Elly Hey was remembered by Mr. and Mrs. John Frost. The Friends of the Columbus Public Library recognized the memory of Jean Wilson.