AUSTIN, Texas — As the nation counts down to its 250th anniversary, one Austin-area woman's decades of quiet dedication are earning her recognition as a local hero.
Mindy Reed has spent 35 years volunteering with the Texas State Library's Talking Book Program, and her commitment to the cause may be written right into her name.
"I love what I do," Reed said. "Anything that has to do with books, I love."
Reed, a retired librarian, reports to a small recording studio every Tuesday morning alongside fellow volunteer John Long, where she reads aloud for Texans who face barriers to reading on their own.
"Because they're sight-impaired; maybe they have severe arthritis, so they can't hold a book – any reason that creates a barrier between them having access to reading material," Reed said.
Long handles the technical controls while Reed works the microphone – a partnership that has deepened into friendship through their shared commitment to service.
"I enjoy doing it," Long said. "You can tell how much Mindy enjoys doing it, and it's just something fun to do that's helping people."
Since the mid-1990s, Reed has completed recordings of 22 books, now available through the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, along with countless articles from Texas publications. She has logged more than 2,433 hours of volunteer service and holds a certificate of appreciation from the Texas State Library.
Long, who has volunteered with the program for 15 to 16 years, is approaching the 1,500-hour mark himself and said Reed continues to inspire him.
"It gives me something to aspire to," Long said.
For Reed, the work is its own reward.
"There's nothing, nothing in this world as wonderful as being read to," she said.
Reed's commitment to literacy extends beyond the recording booth. She also founded the Recycled Reads program at the Austin Public Library, which she oversaw for 10 years, and hosts a radio program featuring interviews with Central Texas authors.
Those interested in volunteering with the Talking Book Program can find more information through the Texas State Library.