Talking Pages
This entry has been selected as a finalist in the
Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition competition.
Talking Pages, a 501(c) (3) organization, is a free online lending library of audio books on CDs and cassette tapes for the visually impaired.
About You
Location
Project Street Address
Project City
Project Province/State
Project Postal/Zip Code
Project Country
Your idea
Field of Work
other
If Field of Work is “other” please define in 1-2 words below
Visually Impaired
Year project started (or projected start date) (yyyy)
2002
YouTube Upload
Project URL (or link to any media coverage)
What is the primary problem your venture is trying to address and how are you addressing it (or planning to address it)?
Visually impaired persons, such as older persons who develop macular degeneration, have limited options for conveniently obtaining audio books. They are expensive to purchase for one-time use, and visually impaired persons may not have easy access to visit their local libraries. Additionally, some local libraries have very limited selections of audio books. To overcome these problems, I founded an online library of audio books on CDs and cassette tapes. Once users provide certification that they are visually impaired, they can register online for a library card and request up to four audio books at a time.
I initiated the idea for the project and established Talking Pages, Inc. as a non-profit organization. In parallel, I designed a web site and selected titles for the library. I established a relationship with Amazon to offer links for more information on the books and set up a PayPal account to collect donations. My initial research included trying out different packaging and labeling techniques. The books are mailed in small boxes along with a return-mailing label. I also worked on fundraising. On an ongoing basis, I correspond with users and donors via email and fulfill requests to borrow books.
Name Your Project
Talking Pages
Describe Your Idea
Talking Pages, a 501(c) (3) organization, is a free online lending library of audio books on CDs and cassette tapes for the visually impaired.
Innovation
Project Description
Talking Pages, a 501(c) (3) organization, is a free online lending library of audio books on CDs and cassette tapes for the visually impaired.
Unique and different
First, I have not found any other online library that offers the same free service to the visually impaired based on commercially available CDs and cassette tapes. These books can be played on ordinary CD or tape players. There are for-profit audio book services that offer books for a fee. Additionally, the National Library Service offers thousands of titles to the visually impaired, but the books use special formats that require specialized playback equipment that can be obtained only from the National Library Service.
Second, one of the innovations that makes Talking Pages financially feasible is the use of a USPS mailing option for the visually impaired. Audio books can be mailed to them at no cost by marking them “Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped.”
Third, the Talking Pages web site has been designed with accessibility features so that blind persons can use screen reader technology that uses a speech synthesizer to access the web site without help from someone with sight.
Project plan
First, I will continue to support the current users who request audio books. Since I attend college in Pennsylvania and the books are located in New Jersey, I handle the online work and my mother mails the books. Second, I will add purchased and donated books to the online catalog. Third, I will partner with my brother to further increase awareness of the library. Finally, I will improve the web site to work well with different browsers.
Partnerships
I have partnered with a large number of individuals and organizations to make Talking Pages successful. I conducted a fundraiser at my high school that involved over 500 students and have sent over 2000 emails to users and donors. I established a relationship with Amazon so that I can offer links on my web site for more information on the books, and I set up a PayPal account to collect donations by credit card. I have corresponded with tens of organizations for the blind to create web links, and partnered with Internet list services run by the visually impaired to inform potential users of the library’s offering. I have worked with about 50 donors of books, both individuals and organizations. In response to my requests, several publishing houses have donated about 100 audio books to the library.
Impact
Impact
The primary beneficiaries of this project are the visually impaired persons who use Talking Pages to borrow audio books. Others who have benefited from my project are family members of the visually impaired, who are grateful to have this service. One person wrote: “Thanks so much for your speedy reply and for this wonderful service. My aunt, who's an avid reader, was recently diagnosed with macular degeneration. She's understandably depressed, and Talking Pages has given her a big lift.”
Effectiveness
Talking Pages has mailed audio books to over 225 visually impaired users in 41 states. Family members are also grateful to have this service.
How do you engage and impact the community?
I impact the community of visually impaired persons by reaching out to them with a convenient service for obtaining audio books. Each book is mailed in a small box along with a return-mailing label. This makes the books available even to users who live in remote areas. Because of the variety of the available books, they can provide entertainment, education, and comfort. The most popular category by far is mystery and thrillers. Another popular category that I added early on at the request of users is religion and spirituality. One of the most popular titles is “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.” My project also engages sighted persons who volunteer to help when they learn of the library’s mission. Most often this help comes in the form of donations of lightly used audio books. I often receive emails from people who have seen the web site and are excited to have a place to pass along the audio books they no longer want to keep.
How do you measure this impact?
The initial goals that I set in 2002 were to have a small library of about 50 titles and to process up to 200 loans per year. Through cash donations used to purchase books as well as donations of used audio books, the library has grown to over 1500 titles. Since the library became operational in July 2003, the library has mailed out between 350 and 500 books per year.
The following comments from two visually impaired users are typical of those I receive: “I look forward to receiving those books, and also I am very thankful for people like you providing a site for blind people like me to get books. God bless you.” and “I am so glad I found out about your service. I am totally blind and this is a great resource to so many great books. I'm floored!” The service provided by Talking Pages delivers immediate benefits to those borrowing the audio books, but also provides comfort and memories. Users have the benefits of what they hear and enjoy on the audio books themselves, as well as knowing that others cared about their having to cope with vision impairments and did something to aid them.
Obstacles
Aside from fundraising, two of the biggest problems I have faced are finding a way to communicate the availability of this service to the visually impaired and making the web site accessible to blind users. To increase awareness, I undertook a direct mail campaign, registered the web site with search engines, contacted organizations for the blind, and partnered with Internet lists run by the visually impaired. To assist visually impaired computer users, I have learned and applied accessibility standards to the web site.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Sustainability
Financing source
(or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)
Talking Pages is financed through cash donations and donations of new and lightly used audio books. To make cash donations easy, I created a PayPal donation link on the Talking Pages web site. Library users or their family members will often voluntarily send us cash donations in gratitude for the service. Donations of books come from users, publishers, and groups and individuals who want to support the organization’s mission. Some users donate their own audio books and are pleased to have a mechanism for sharing them with others. Several publishers have responded to my requests with donations of new books on CDs, which are especially popular. In 2004, another non-profit organization serving the blind that was closing its library donated over 500 books, and I spent 50 hours adding them to the online catalog. Special efforts, such as an appearance I made in 2006 on WABC Eyewitness News in the New York area, also yield donations from people who are inspired by our mission.
Aside from financial sustainability, how do you plan to grow and sustain your project?
Once I graduate from college next May, I plan to increase the marketing efforts to increase awareness of the library. I have designed the web site interface so that the online registration for a library card and the requests for books can be handled by a contact other than the visually impaired recipient of the books. I plan to explore methods of reaching family members of the visually impaired and caregivers (such as volunteers at assisted living homes) who could assist visually impaired persons who may not have access to or interest in an online service. I am also planning to investigate digital downloads as a means of expanding the titles offered by Talking Pages. Digital downloads could be used by the library to create CDs that are mailed to users, just as books on CD are currently mailed. They could also be considered as an alternative service offering. Investigating digital downloads will involve consideration of copyrights and subscriptions to services that offer downloads at a fee to libraries.
Finance details
Talking Pages began operations in July 2003. For the 4 ½ year period ending December 31, 2007, Talking Pages received a total of $26,228 in donations. This consisted of $13,014 in cash and $13,214 in audio books (lightly used books are valued at Amazon “like new” prices). During that same period, the library had $7,213 in expenses, and therefore has current assets of $19,015. This includes approximately $4,600 in cash and about 1500 books valued at approximately $14,400. There are four members of my family (my parents, my brother, and myself) who serve as the Trustees of Talking Pages and participate in running the library. My mother (President) is involved in supporting daily operations and the web site. My father (Treasurer) works with me on financial aspects. My brother (Vice President) is in charge of marketing and operational improvements. Talking Pages also benefits from the support of about 50 donors and in the past, over 500 students were involved in fundraising.
Creative funding
I obtained permission to run a “dress down day” at my high school. Students who donated at least $1 to Talking Pages when entering school were allowed to wear jeans and other casual clothes to school that day (normally there was a strict dress code). Before approaching publishers for donations, I researched which publishers represent authors whose books are frequently requested from the library. I approached the publishers with specific information about the popularity of those authors to strengthen my requests.
Other non finance needs
Talking Pages would continue to benefit from increased publicity. It is difficult to find effective mechanisms to reach visually impaired users, especially older persons, most of whom do not use the Internet.
The Story
Motivation
I was inspired by one of my aunts who developed macular degeneration and could no longer read. In her rural community in upstate New York, she was unable to get access to many bestseller audio books from her local library. Buying audio books was an expensive alternative for her, and this gave me the idea to create an online lending library of audio books for the visually impaired. I researched the idea on the Internet and discovered several sites that offer audio books for a fee. I also found the National Library Service that offers thousands of titles to the visually impaired, but the books use special formats that require specialized playback equipment that can be obtained only from the National Library Service. I wanted to give people the option of also getting books on CD, since some people, like my aunt, do not like using tapes. It is also convenient for people to get books that they can play on standard equipment. Many Talking Pages users have sent me e-mails to indicate they appreciate the convenience of the service and the fact it helps make them independent.
Awards
Prudential Spirit of Community Service Award (2005) – I was selected as the High School Winner for the state of New Jersey.
Pingry School Community Service Award (2005)– This recognition is given annually to one senior in the Pingry School graduating class.
Do Something BRICK Award (2006) – I was the recipient of a $10,000 Grant, consisting of $5,000 for Talking Pages and $5,000 towards my college tuition.
Broader context
I discovered that, by taking the initiative, I could have a positive impact on the lives of visually impaired persons. Because of the complexity of the project, I developed better planning and organizational skills, as well as time management skills. I enjoy sharing my story to help motivate other young people to assume personal responsibility for social change. As an outgrowth of the Prudential Spirit of Community award, I appeared in a Public Service Announcement aired on TV that described Talking Pages to help get other teenagers interested in taking action. I believe you can always find a way to get involved with helping others that fits into your schedule – I specifically planned Talking Pages because I could work on it from home at any time of the day. I hope that other young people who hear about Talking Pages are encouraged to use their initiative to find or start a project that helps others – it will be an amazing experience.
Ongoing
I expect to continue supporting and expanding Talking Pages for the foreseeable future. I would like to see the user group grow to the point where my family and I can no longer support the daily operations without additional help. At that stage, I can envision working with a youth group associated either with my church or a local school, asking them to assume responsibility for the daily operations (e.g., responding to user emails, sending out books, checking in books, adding new titles to the catalog). I would then focus my efforts on expanding our user base and examining other ways to serve the community of visually impaired persons.
What is your age?
Please select one
How did you hear about this competition?
I was contacted by Suria Lloyd from the New England Region of Youth Venture. She told me that she had seen the Talking Pages web site.
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| Talking Pages - Mailing.JPG | 109.4 KB |
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 | 67 weeks agoMichelle DeShane said: This is a lovely project and very needed.What a blessing tobe able to order four titles at one time. about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 186 weeks agoTURIBAMWE GORDON said: Nice work, very good work you are doing to help ---------- GORDON CREATIVE ARTS PROJECT Makers & Dealers in: Paintings ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 186 weeks agoTalking Pages has been chosen as a finalist in Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition . |
