Radio Talking Book 50th Anniversary Celebration

Radio Talking Book Service connects individuals who are blind, low vision, or print impaired to news, information, arts, and culture through the human voice and technology. Their vision is to enable all people to remain active and engaged in their community through human connection.

This year, they are so proud to be celebrating 50 years of service.

Radio Talking Book Service (RTBS) serves Nebraska and southwest Iowa with a mission to provide human-voiced information choices to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have physical disabilities which prevent them from reading.  We are in our 50th year of providing a vital connection for these individuals with the printed word through three programs: Radio Talking Book Network, a statewide radio reading service; Audio Description, a live connection to arts and culture; and Listening Link, an educational reading program. 

The Radio Talking Book Network (RTBN), founded in 1974, is Nebraska’s audio companion and only radio reading service.  RTBN provides our statewide audience with equal access to local, current information necessary to lead productive, self-directed lives and remain engaged in their communities.  To do this, RTBN uses over 80 volunteer readers, whose diverse voices bring the printed word to life with the reading of 21 regional newspapers, grocery and department store ads weekly, information from over 70 magazines, live interviews on our Community Conversations, a Veterans Hour, and much more. 

Audio Description ensures access to live community events, including theater, parades, art exhibits, and more.  A trained describer provides the visual details of these events which can include costumes, sets, details of a float, the antics of a mascot, and more!

The Listening Link program assists blind, visually impaired, and learning disabled students in eliminating educational barriers they face.  Founded in 1992, Listening Link works with area schools and colleges, providing human-voiced recordings of textbooks and other course material required for degree completion and academic success.