JEFFERSON, Mo. — Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced that on April 8, 2022, Wolfner Talking Book and Braille Library, a component of the Missouri State Library, surpassed 1,000 Wolfner-produced audiobooks approved by the Library of Congress for distribution through the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) network.
According to the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Missouri is one of only three states that have more than 1,000 audiobooks available for distribution through BARD.
“As Wolfner widens its spectrum of audiobooks produced in-house, Missourians who rely on Wolfner’s services will be able to find more listening materials that suit their particular interests at the touch of a button,” Ashcroft said.
These audiobooks, recorded and reviewed in Wolfner’s production studios, are created through the efforts of volunteer narrators, monitors and reviewers. The printed books used as source materials in the recording process are funded by the not-for-profit organization Friends of the Wolfner Library.
Robin Westphal, state librarian and director of the Wolfner Library, said, “Reaching this milestone is further proof that Wolfner is a viable service to the many Missourians who use its resources.”
Wolfner provides informational and recreational materials in large print, braille and audio formats free of charge to its patrons, along with disability-related information. Anyone with internet capabilities can register as a Wolfner patron and use the BARD website and BARD mobile app to access all of Wolfner’s talking books and digital braille files.
Visit sos.mo.gov/Wolfner/applyforservices for more information on Wolfner’s services.