Hundreds of audio books are produced in the studios of the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) Audio Book Production Department. These books, narrated by volunteers, are normally only available to WTBBL patrons and patrons of other National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped network libraries. But a collection of Legacy Washington titles produced in audio format by WTBBL is now available on the Washington Anytime Library platform for public libraries.

These titles are published by, and made available in collaboration with Legacy Washington, an oral history program within the Office of the Secretary of State. Its goal is to further the knowledge of the state’s past and its continuing story.

Laura Mott, Director of Development for the office said, “We’re so pleased to be partnering with the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in helping to make Legacy Washington books available for a broader audience through multiple media formats.”

There are 13 titles available, including, “Lillian Walker: Washington State Civil Rights Pioneer,” “John Spellman: Politics Never Broke His Heart,” and, “Where the Salmon Run: The Life and Legacy of Billy Frank Jr.”

WTBBL Audio Book Production Department staff work with over 80 narrators and 20 reviewers to record, review, edit, and do the final post production of the audio books – a process that can take up to a year per book. “We are excited to share our books with the larger library community and are very proud of the work of our exceptionally talented narrators,” says WTBBL director Danielle Miller.

The Washington Anytime Library is a collection of downloadable audiobooks and eBooks organized and supported by a consortium of the state’s smaller and mid-sized public libraries, most of whom could not afford to offer this service individually.

Management of the consortium is assisted by the Washington State Library which has used federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to assist in the development of the consortium and its collection. WTBBL is a program of the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.