For visually disabled people, books are one of the most crucial sources of information about anything pertaining to the past, present or future. Thus, libraries are of great importance and must provide them with the necessary facilities to make these resources accessible. However, it is not an easy task to put such written works into an audio format. It takes not only high technology, but also a large amount of volunteer support. The National Library in Ankara has taken a huge step forward in such services, thanks to its sensitive and conscious readers who, by offering a couple of hours a week to read books, have helped the blind benefit from the library. Ramazan Bakırcı, the manager of the “Speaking Library” project notes that currently there are 45 volunteers who regularly visit the library to make audio recordings of the books requested by blind people. The readers are not haphazardly assigned. They are selected after a testing process. Those deemed to have an agreeable voice with good intonation and diction are picked. Bakırcı explains: “The most important part of being a reader is to be determined to finish the book thoroughly. The recordings mean a lot to the blind readers, especially the text and test books, most of which are indispensable for providing a certain level of education or preparing for exams, such as the State Personnel Examination [KPSS] and the Student Selection Exam [ÖSS].” Apart from being a means to succeed at such tests, the recordings serve to open up new horizons through various kinds of books. Novels are quite popular.
Asked why she volunteers, Nevin Zencirci, a retired teacher, replies: “When I am engaged in such activities, I feel like most of the troubles I am going through are pointless. So this is a mutual thing, actually. It gives me peace of mind and I definitely recommend everybody who feels depressed to come and experience this.” Among the volunteers is the mother of renowned author Elif Şafak, Şafak Atayman, who has been contributing to the project for two years. She says: “Anyone who can spare just half a day each week can finish one or two books in a year. Even if I receive criticisms from the listeners from time to time, I am pretty glad that my voice is helping out.”
For Melih Ergun, who became visually impaired five years ago, this project is a means to hold on to life: “I have always had a passion about reading and books constitute a major part of my life. However, because of my partial loss of sight, I am not able to read anymore and, from now on, I can only read through recordings. So the library is crucial for me.”
Bakırcı says the recordings are available online as well. Those who provide a health report indicating that they are at least 40 percent visually impaired can register and gain access to any book they like. It seems the project’s success will continue to grow.
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