Free books on tape program may end due to budget cuts
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- To: <BlindNews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 04:59:18 -0400
Bay News 9, FL, USA
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Free books on tape program may end due to budget cuts
By Summer Smith
Caption: Manatee county libraries may have to eliminate the talking books
section of their six libraries. (slideshow)
MANATEE COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Manatee county libraries may have to eliminate
the talking books section of their six libraries.
The county is looking to cut money from their budget, including the funding to
the library.
Many vision impaired residents use this section of the library.
Marice Sardo, 76, loves a good mystery. But instead of anxiously flipping
through a book she listens to stories on tape.
"I had embryiotic cataract when I was born and have been blind since birth,"
Sardo said.
Sardo's husband, Tony, 78, is also visually impaired and has been legally blind
all his life.
Both said since they can't drive or read they rely on books on tape to stay
connected to the world.
The tapes and machines are provided to them for free by Manatee County's
library talking book service, a program for visually impaired residents.
Every week, the Sardos order the tapes and have them mailed to their home.
Even though the federal government provides the supplies for free, county
officials say budget cuts have forced them to cut library staff and operating
expenses.
That could lead them to end the program that currently serves almost 2,000
disabled residents in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Library officials say if the service is eliminated residents will still be able
to get books on tape.
However, instead of calling or coming to the Bradenton library, residents will
be forced to order the tapes from the main library in Daytona Beach.
"It's a valuable service but if we eliminate it, it's not being eliminated
because Daytona picks it up," said Manatee County library services manager John
Van Berkel.
But visually impaired residents like the Sardos say the elimination of the
local service is disappointing and with Daytona Beach already serving 39,000
people they fear they're passion for reading will be put on hold.
"There's going to be a long delay because it takes a month to go through all
the requests," Sardo said.
More Information
Manatee Co. libraries
http://www.co.manatee.fl.us/library/master.html
E-mail TV reporter Summer Smith
http://www.baynews9.com/E-mail-staff.html?Summer.Smith
Source
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/9/25/290303.html
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