Denver, December 10, 2004
Forty-six Colorado centenarians will become the latest inductees in the 102 Talking-Book Club today as the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress and the Colorado Talking-Book Library (CTBL) officially launch the state chapter of the national program.
Photo caption: Colorado regional librarian and NLS staff honor charter members of
the Colorado Chapter of the 102 Club. From the left, Debbi MacLeod, Director, CTBL;
Rosemary Bardon, 100, of Castle Rock; Frank Kurt Cylke, Director of NLS; Edna Milliken, 100, of
Denver, Helen Daly, 100, Denver, Thelma Low, 100, of Canon City, Rowena De Good, 100,
of Loveland; Jean Moss, NLS Digital Projects Coordinator.
The club was created to recognize the accomplishments of Talking-Book readers 100 years of age and older and to give them priority on high demand materials such as new releases. The Talking-Book program provides books and magazines on audio to those who can't read or use a standard printed page. The event in Colorado is the third in a national series of events officially launching the club across the country. The Colorado Talking-Book program has more centenarian participants than any other state.
"The 102 Talking-Book Club represents the true spirit of the Talking-Book reading program. Our more than 1,600 Talking-Book centenarians have continued to actively read in every stage of their lives, regardless of blindness or physical handicaps, " said Frank Kurt Cylke, director of NLS. "It's our hope that their love of reading will encourage others who are eligible to join their local or state program."
Six members of the Colorado 102 Talking-Book Club will represent the state's 46 eligible centenarians at today's ceremony. They are:
- Rosemary Bardon, 100, of Castle Rock
- Rowena De Good, 100, of Loveland
- Ruth Dunn, 100, of Fort Collins
- Thelma Low, 100, of Canon City
- Mabel Lowsma, 101, of Lakewood
- Edna Milliken, 100, of Denver
Each will receive a plaque and letter of induction during the ceremony at the Colorado Talking-Book Library in Denver.
According to Library of Congress statistics, nearly all states have eligible centenarians for the 102 Talking-Book Club. Interested parties may visit the NLS website, www.loc.gov/nls, and browse the 102 Talking-Book Club page for additional information, including how to locate a state or local participating library.
NLS provides a free national reading service to people who can no longer read the standard print of a newspaper or even the pages of a large-print book. Not being able to read can cut out activities that older adults have always loved, like following the sports page or using a cookbook. The program loans members a wide selection of recorded books and magazines, braille books and magazines, and music scores in braille and large print.
Anyone who is a citizen of the United States and cannot read or use standard print materials because of a visual or physical handicap may qualify to join Talking Books. Specific information on who qualifies and how to enroll in the free program can be found at: www.loc.gov/nls or by dialing 1-800-424-9100.