All good things come to an end.

TSCPL Talking Books has a loyal corps of volunteers from the Topeka community who assist staff in many ways. The Telecom Pioneers have repaired playback equipment for Talking Books for over 25 years.

Other volunteers work on computer records, shelve incoming books, process new books and repair damaged cassettes. Our cassette inspection program relies heavily on volunteers who open, inspect, test and repack cassette talking books into their containers. If you would like to explore volunteering in Talking Books, please contact the TSCPL Volunteer Coordinator at (785) 580-4490 or via mailform.

• Information about and applications for NLS/BPH Talking Book Service
• Speakers and presentations for interested community groups, clubs and organizations in our fourteen county area
• Loan of cassette books for pickup in person or through the mail
• Reader's advisory services: personal assistance with fiction and nonfiction book selections
• Loan of special playback equipment to play Library of Congress cassettes
• Duplication and tape repair of Library of Congress produced cassette books
• Liaison with NLS/BPH for recorded or braille versions of selected magazines
• Free replacement and repair of Library of Congress playback equipment by Telephone Pioneers Repair Group
• Management of confidential patron information so addresses, book titles and reading records are continually updated
• Catalogs and special book lists on request
• A toll free 800 number if readers have questions, problems or requests
• A Children's Summer Reading Program for blind and physically handicapped readers ages 4-14
• Descriptive Videos for Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library patrons through the Senior Services/Red Carpet Service. Registered Talking Book readers in northeast Kansas may borrow videos through the Kansas Regional Library in Emporia
• A Vantage CCD and an Aladdin Magnifier for use in the TSCPL Talking Books library.
• Liaison with the Kansas State Library Talking Books Service to order special books, magazines, Descriptive Videos
• The "Talking Book News," an informative newsletter for Talking Book readers in northeast Kansas
  Referral to services, agencies and vendors of interest to our readers
• Liaison with the Utah State Library Program for the Blind and Disabled. The Utah Library serves Talking Book readers in Kansas with braille books.
• Small collection of limited loan videos on vision loss and reading disabilities
• Assistance in contacting your local public library
• Liaison with NLS/BPH Web-Braille Service & Braille Books Online. To sign up or for more information, please call  (785) 580-4530, 1-800-432-2925 or use our mail form.

As Talking Books is a federally funded service, readers must complete an Application for Free Library Service.  The application needs to be certified by an accepted authority such as a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, optometrist, nurse, home health worker, social worker or others.  In the case of a reading disability, an M.D. or D.O. must certify the Application for Service.

Note:  We cannot accept return applications for service via fax. Talking Books staff can fax a blank application form, but an original signature must appear on the certified application and it must be on file before service begins.

Applications for Service are processed in 3-5 business days in the order received.

TSCPL Talking Books serves the 14 counties in northeast Kansas listed below, and provides the largest coverage in Kansas.

Six other libraries in Kansas cover different areas of the state. The national Talking Book program is available to any eligible reader in all 50 states and U.S. Territories.

Counties we cover include the following:

Atchison
Brown
Doniphan
Douglas
Franklin
Jackson
Jefferson
Johnson
Leavenworth
Miami
Nemaha
Osage
Shawnee
Wyandotte