Greetings from the Great Bend Public Library and Happy Talking Books Week! For those who don’t know, Talking Books is a free program offered through the State Library of Kansas that provides reading options for people who are not able to or have difficulty reading print materials. This can mean people who are blind or even people who have difficulty holding a book.

The program allows access to audiobooks and magazines that play on special digital talking book machines, which are also provided. These machines are made to be easy to use especially for people without sight. All the buttons have braille labels and narrate what button has been pressed. Patrons also gain access to BARD Mobile, which allows you to download books and magazines, not only to your own device but to a flash drive that can be plugged into your machine to play what you have downloaded.

Talking books has more than just audiobooks! Braille books and magazines and descriptive DVDs are available as well. Any Kansas residents who qualify can take advantage of all of these services. Even if you have a temporary injury that makes it difficult to use print material, you can use the service temporarily. Materials are shipped directly to patrons at no cost to them. Everything is covered, and patrons never have to pay for anything. 

During Talking Books Week here at the library, we have a display with materials about the program, including applications. If you would like to learn more or pick up an application, you can come to the library to see our display near the front desk. We even have examples of the machines and cartridges that play the books! 

Next week we will have Story Time again in-person. Look forward to that on Tuesday at 10:30, as well as Miss Jessica’s Virtual Learning Library Room on Wednesday at 3:30. For teens starting on Monday, we will have a brand new take and make for pickup. Teens grades 6-12 can grab a kit with everything needed to make their own Rainbow Disc Scratch Art using old CDs and DVDs.

Hannah Grippin is outreach manager at the Great Bend Public Library. Keep an eye on GBPL’s Facebook and its website, greatbendpl.info, for upcoming programs and updates. You can also message the staff on Facebook or email gbcirc@gmail.com or call 620-792-2409.