Approaching summer reading with the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library

This summer’s expanded reading list from the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library includes Midwestern topics and Wisconsin authors. Everything on the list is available in multiple reading formats, so it’s accessible to most people.

Often, Wisconsin authors register their audiobooks with the state with the Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement program, which is based in Milwaukee. The program’s legacy stretches back almost 60 years to when volunteers ran it.

Katie Saldutte, field librarian for the library, told WPR’s Wisconsin Today that the library works closely with the Audio Braille Literacy Enhancement program to provide free reading assistance services and technology to eligible Wisconsinites of all ages.

In addition to various types of visual impairment, eligibility for the program includes a variety of disabilities. Examples include physical disabilities that prevent people from holding a book, such as Parkinson’s, and reading disabilities, such as dyslexia.

Also on “Wisconsin Today,” Saldutte previewed titles from this year’s summer reading list and explained the value of different reading styles.

The following has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Rob Ferrett: What are some things you’re excited to see on this year’s summer reading list?

Katie Saldutte: The one I’m most excited about is Fireman’s Girl. We have an author chat with the National Library Service for the Blind and Handicapped and author Angeline Boulley is talking to our patrons. It will be on Zoom because it’s nationwide.

She is writing about a young adult in the Midwest who is part Native American. It is pending. She solves a mystery that occurs in her tribe. I can’t wait to hear (Boulley) speak and (hear) how she got the inspiration for the book. Even if you’re not into young adult books, it’s well done and very enjoyable.

Some of the other cool Wisconsin books we have are … made by an organization we work very closely with, Audio Literacy and Braille Enhancement (ABLE). They offer us Wisconsin books that some of our Wisconsin readers might really enjoy, including, of course, some favorites like the Loon Lake series and books by John Gurda. We have our famous local author Nghi Vo recording books here, which is really cool.

Now, these are books for adults. We also have many children’s books. And one of the really cool children’s books that ABLE recorded is a book called “The Adventures of Marshmallow and Peter,” which the Librarian of Congress is actually going to read at the beginning of summer reading.

Marshmallow is actually the name of the white cane that Peter uses because the tip of his white cane looks like an alto. Now, this is a little guy who actually wrote this book, and he’s blind. So we were very excited that ABLE recorded this book here for us. We have it in both audio and Braille.

RF: As someone who reads print and listens to a lot of audiobooks, I’m fine either way. Do you think there is more acceptance around the idea that different forms of reading are still valid? Do you think people are buying more for it?

SC: You know, I think people buy more for it. But I still hear a lot of feedback from people: “Oh, I listen to an audiobook when I’m feeling lazy” or “I don’t need that.” It’s amazing, the shame people feel around him. And I hear that, too, with people who have vision loss, who are ashamed of it and don’t want to admit that they need any kind of alternative service. So I hope that will change. But of course it’s still a struggle.

We’re very passionate about the idea that reading with your eyes is the best way to do this. We forget that this may not be the best way for everyone. Instead of judging people for how they learn, we should work with it and improve it.

RF: What services and reading options are available at Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library?

SC: We can provide access to audiobooks. Braille material. We have magazines. We have audio described DVDs. We have audio newspapers that they can listen to over the phone. We have a lot of accessible material.

We can mail you an audiobook player and player. We can mail the tapes to you. We can mail you the rechargeable braille reader or you can download the materials yourself. We have a huge collection of … over 130,000 audiobooks. We also have downloadable Braille books. So if you get the rechargeable Braille reader, you can actually download Braille directly to your reader.

RF: How can people take the first steps to participate?

SC: Call us at 1-800-242-8822 or 414-286-3045. We will send you a paper application. And then, once we get that application, we can get you started.