RTBS is 50!
Radio Talking Book Service is thrilled and proud to be celebrating 50 Years of Service as Nebraska's Audio Companion and only radio reading service. Over five decades, we have been privileged to work with hundreds of dedicated, passionate volunteers whose voices bring the printed word to life for our statewide listeners. RTBS has had incredible leadership, staff, and board members. We wouldn't be celebrating 50 years without generous funding from individuals, foundations, and organizations like the Omaha Association of the Blind and Lions Clubs across the state. Collaboration is key to connecting with those individuals who would benefit from our service and referrals from organizations like the Nebraska Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired and the Weigel Williamson Center are invaluable to our mission and vision.
Radio Talking Book Network (RTBN) was founded in 1974 by Dr. Craig Fullerton. Dr. Fullerton was the assistant superintendent of Omaha Public Schools and helped bring Nebraska’s first PBS station, KIOS-FM, to life. While in the process of implementing public radio in Nebraska, Dr. Fullerton discovered a radio reading service for the blind and visually impaired in Minnesota. Immediately recognizing the benefit of such a service in Nebraska, he created Radio Talking Book Service and RTBN became the sixth radio reading service in the nation. Dr. Fullerton’s vision was to inform, educate, and engage individuals with print impairments by providing equal access to current, local print information. In 1974, KIOS-FM donated its SCA-FM subcarrier frequency to RTBN to assist in our mission to serve Omaha and surrounding areas. Shortly following that collaboration, RTBN partnered with Nebraska Telecommunications (NET) to expand the service statewide and become Nebraska’s Audio Companion and sole reading radio service. We currently serve 12,197 individuals across Nebraska with RTBN!
In 1992, we added Listening Link, an educational reading service, providing audio versions of textbooks and course material necessary for academic success. RTBS was thrilled to announce the addition of our newest service, Audio Description (AD) in 2023. RTBS partners with community venues to provide equal access to programming and events through audio description services. From Broadway to ballet, trained describers provide live AD for theater performances, exhibits, parades, and more. RTBS has partnered with the Orpheum Theater, the Rose Theater, and Omaha Community Playhouse to provide equal access to programming and events through audio description services. We also fulfilled AD requests at the Holland Center, Bluebarn Theatre, and Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre as well as traveling to Lincoln to provide AD at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. In 2023, RTBS provided AD services for 30 individuals and ensured accessibility at 15 performances.
Click on the names below to listen to interviews with RTBS staff, past and present!
Ways to Celebrate 50 Years of RTBS!
- Help us raise $50,000 for 50 Years of Service! Donate Today!
- Ask us to tell our story at your Lions Club meeting, Rotary Club, Book Club, Open House, whenever and wherever you may need a speaker!
- Sign up to be a Volunteer!
- Sponsor one (or more!) of the over 70 subscriptions we maintain so our listeners are connected to local, current print media necessary to remain engaged in their community!
- Treat RTBS to one or more items on our SHARE Omaha Wish List!
- Tell your family and friends about RTBS and the unique work we do!
