This manual was developed by the staff of the Read Aloud Programs for the Elderly of the Seattle Public Library. It is based on a year's experience of conducting read-aloud programs in nursing homes and is meant to be a guide for setting up similar programs in other library systems. The first half of the manual, addressed to program managers, includes guidelines for planning, promoting, and setting up the program; the basics of recruiting, supervising, and evaluating volunteer readers; details of the training process; and tips for reading material collection development. The second half of the manual is addressed to the volunteers. This section is designed to prepare volunteers for their task, familiarize them with their audience, and acquaint them with some basic principles of communicating with the elderly residents of nursing homes. It provides specific suggestions for conducting programs and choosing appropriate materials. An appendix includes copies of training materials, evaluation forms, a survey of volunteers, guidelines, and other information. (KC)