Nostalgia washes through me about the Utah State Library for the Blind’s loss of their Radio Reading Service, effective April 2010.
Sure, it may be an outmoded idea, not really a 21st Century Idea. And sure, the State of Utah has huge budget cuts and we need to keep a balanced budget. And sure, I support our Governor Herbert and our legislature on keeping a balanced budget. After all, we try to do that at home and it seems to be workin’.
I especially support USL admin for doing their homework and finding the least used service, since we can’t keep them all in these tight times. Hopefully one day we’ll be back to the days we had pre-recession. I’m all for that.
Moreover, many people may have given up the radio for something zestier like facebook, like twitter, like Salt Lake Tribune online, who has thoughtfully written an article about it.
But really….
I remember when Frank Layden (President of the Utah Jazz) used to come in and read for the radio. People loved that. They liked to listen in, hear his voice, feel his personality, his presence.
I remember when Gerald Lund donated his latest greatest book to be read to the blind. Right when it was sizzling hot off the press. He brought it right on over, didn’t waste a minute. People loved that too.
I remember when Governor Matheson spoke up for the blind patrons and one of them walked on over, slapped him [hard] on the back and said how much he loved him. Those were the days.
Maybe the time has come to give up sacred (purple) cows, especially when the State Library is facing such huge budget cuts that we can’t even breathe in and out all day long, but always remember these words:
I never saw a purple cow
I never hope to see one;
but I can tell you anyhow;
I’d rather see than be one
–Gelett Burgess, 1895
That was a beautifully written essay, Colleen. You really have a talent for writing.
Since baseball season is now upon us, and you’ve got me feeling nostalgic, I can’t help but think of that euphemism that we always say when our favorite team loses to the Yankees in the play-offs: “Just, wait until next year!”
With the Radio Reading Service, I feel the same way. The blind still have the need for audio access local information and entertainment. They always will have that need and it’s not a need that seems to be met by alternatives like cable TV, FM Radio, Google. Yes, the old method of delivering the Radio Reading Service over analog radio bands has had its day. The Internet, though, now affords numerous ways to stream and deliver digital content that is both better and cheaper than ever before.
The Radio Reading Service is down and out now, but what about next year? Is there a new season to look forward to? Can Utah libraries, and in particular The Library for the Blind, partner with our newspapers and local providers, and come up with an affordable way to deliver to them local news and information like grocery ads?
There are new methods, now on the cusp, that could be harnessed for the blind: advances in text-to-voice speech recognition, access to low cost and ubiquitous devices like iPods, easy ways to deliver and subscribe to podcasts, low-cost ways to stream digital content on the Web, libraries of eAudio books available to library patrons through PIONEER, and apps for the new e-readers such as the iPad that will make it easier than ever to find, download, and read e-books and e-magazines. You, quite likely, can think of even better ideas than these that I mention.
I’m not an expert in the field, but I do believe we can overcome any obstacles. Just like Cubs fans who are perennial believers, I believe that we can come back. I believe that we have the talent in this state to do this. I believe that the people of Utah are generous enough to support a digital audio information service for the elderly and the blind.
Let’s put our minds together to find a solution. I hope we can tell them before long that we’re working on something better, “Just wait until next year.”