Carl Augusto, currently president and executive director of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), describes his personal and professional experience with the National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and the talking books program. Topics discussed include AFB's history with its own talking book program founded by Helen Keller, the organization's role in developing the technology for long-playing records, its production of more that 500 titles on cassette every year, the launching of an award for talking-book narration, and the author's experience with the narrators. Augusto credits librarians with much of the success of the program and suggests that they can play an even more important role in the lives of the blind or print handicapped by learning about their needs. He also notes that only 30% of the working-age blind are employed and that the number of blind or severely visually impaired aged 65 and over will reach 5.8 million by 2030. (KRN)