Guest Author - Carla Ruschival
Residents of Kansas who are blind and visually impaired or who cannot read print because of a physical disability can receive braille or audio books and magazines through the mail, free of charge.
People who cannot see to read a regular print book or who cannot manipulate a book because of arthritis, paralysis, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome or other physical disabilities, or who have a reading disability such as dyslexia, qualify for services. They may borrow audio Talking Books or braille books through special libraries that are part of a Library of Congress program called the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS).
All kinds of books are available, from mysteries to fantasies to biographies to cookbooks to children's books. Thousands of titles are in the collection for every reading taste. Magazines are also available in braille and on tape.
The patron calls the Talking Book Library and asks for books, or a reader advisor selects books for him. Books are sent through the mail free of charge, and when the patron is finished with them, they are returned, again postage-free. Magazines are also sent by mail, but do not need to be returned.
The Talking Book library in Emporia serves the entire state, and borrows braille books from Utah for readers statewide. Other libraries, called subregionals, are branches that serve specific counties throughout the state.
Some Kansas Talking Book libraries have collections of large print books and video-described DVS movies. Interlibrary loan may also be used to make audiobooks and other commercially-produced materials available to patrons, and digital books may be downloaded for use with notetakers and MP3 players.
To obtain an application or request books, contact the library that serves the county in which you live (see list below).
Kansas State Library
Kansas Talking Books Regional Library
ESU Memorial Union
1200 Commercial, Box 4055
Emporia, KS 66801-5087
Telephone: (620)341-6280
Toll-free (In-state): (800)362-0699
FAX: (620)341-6289
Email the Kansas regional library in Emporia or visit their website
Serves: All of Kansas, with full direct services to Barber, Butler, Cowley, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Kiowa, McPherson, Pratt, Reno, Rice, Stafford, and Sumner counties
Western Kansas Talking Books
Northwest Kansas Library System
2 Washington Square
P.O. Box 446
Norton, KS 67654-0446
Telephone: (785)877-5148
Toll-free (In-state): (800)432-2858
TDD: (785)877-5148
FAX: (785)877-5697
Email the Norton library or
Serves: Cheyenne, Clark, Comanche, Decatur, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton, Rawlin, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, and Wichita counties
Talking Book Service
CKLS Headquarters
1409 Williams
Great Bend, KS 67530
Telephone: (620)792-2393
Toll-free (In-state): (800)362-2642
FAX: (620)792-5495
Email the Great Bend library or visit their website
Serves: Barton, Cloud, Ellis, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Republic, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, and Smith counties
Talking Books Service
Manhattan Public Library
North Central Kansas Libraries System
629 Poyntz Avenue
Manhattan, KS 66502-6086
Telephone: (785)776-4741
FAX: (785)776-1545
Email the Manhattan library or visit their website
Serves: Chase, Clay, Dickinson, Geary, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Morris, Pottawatomie, Riley, Wabaunsee, and Washington counties
Talking Books
Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
1515 Southwest 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66604-1374
Telephone: (785)580-4530
Toll-free (In-state): (800)432-2925
TDD: (785)580-4545
FAX: (785)580-4430
Email the Topeka library or visit their website
Serves: Atchinson, Brown, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Nemaha, Osage, Shawnee, and Wyandotte counties
Wichita Public Library
Talking Books Section
223 South Main
Wichita, KS 67202
Telephone: (316)261-8500 and (316)261-8574
Toll-free (In-state): (800)362-2869
TDD: (316)262-3972
FAX: (316)262-4540
Email the Wichita library
Serves: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Labette, Linn, Montgomery, Neosho, Sedgwick, Wilson, and Woodson counties
