Radio Talking Book Service Celebrates 50 Years of Service!

Radio Talking Book Service (RTBS) (RTBS.org) is celebrating 50 Years of Service in 2024! They are excited to continue serving their listeners with a mission to connect individuals who are blind, low vision, or print impaired to news, information, arts and culture through the human voice and technology. Founded in 1974, Radio Talking Book Service is Nebraska’s Audio Companion. RTBS volunteers read 21 regional newspapers weekly, including Strictly Business, which can be heard every Friday at 2 p.m. or on their podcast page.

Meet your Strictly Business Reader, Dave LaFerla! Every week, Dave LaFerla into one of the four RTBS recording booths to record a 45-minute “week-in-review” of news from Strictly Business and Midlands Business Journal for Radio Talking Book Service (RTBS) program, Mind Your Business. He’s already selected the top local business news stories and is ready to record. As a retired consultant, Dave now has plenty of time for golf, gardening, grandkids and his wife, Mary Alice and cat, Blue. He also serves as the music director at Saint Wenceslaus church.

Radio Talking Book Service brings the printed word to life through three key programs. Radio Talking Book Network, a statewide radio reading service, enables their 12,197 listeners to remain active and engaged in their community. Over 80 volunteers read newspapers and magazines, and their diverse voices are broadcast over the radio and internet. In 1992, we added Listening Link, an educational reading service, providing audio versions of textbooks and course material necessary for academic success. RTBS introduced our newest program, Audio Description (AD) in 2023, partnering with community venues to provide equal access to programming and events through AD services. From Broadway to ballet, trained describers provide live AD for theater performances, exhibits, parades and more.

For more information about Radio Talking Book Service, how to get involved, how to help us raise $50K for 50 Years, or how to listen or sign up for a radio, visit us at RTBS.org or call (402) 572-3003.