House Republican Press Release

August 8, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. O’Neill Secures Grant For Southbury Library

Funding For ‘Audio Books’

HARTFORD – State Rep. Arthur O’Neill, R-Southbury, has secured a $2,500 state grant for the Southbury Public Library.  The funding, which was supplied by the State Office of Policy and Management, will be used to purchase ‘audio books’ for the facility.

“I am very grateful to Governor Rell’s administration for making this funding available to the people of Southbury,” said Rep. O’Neill. “I hope everyone, especially those who have difficulty reading, will take advantage of the selections the grant will provide.”

According to the library, one in six Americans over the age of 45 has trouble reading small print. Southbury has a higher percentage of residents age 55 and older (35%) than most Connecticut communities, which increases the number of people with visual impairments. The facility currently owns 1,430 audio books. The audio cassette format is becoming obsolete, so there is need to purchase more audio book Compact Discs. 

Rep. O’Neill noted that the Southbury Library is home to a recording studio that records reading materials for the state Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Selections from this collection become part of the National Library Service catalog.