THIRTY YEARS OF VOLUNTEERING: HERMAN URSCHEL

Washington Park resident and Denver native Herman Urschel was recently recognized for providing 30 years of volunteer service to the Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL) by Mayor John Hickenlooper and the agency. Mayor Hickenlooper proclaimed a Saturday in December "Herman Urschel Day."

Urschel was one of the founders of Western Cine, a film processing service established in 1952 and located for many years at Pearl and Alameda. This early and important contributor to Colorado's film industry added many other services as well as a sound recording studio.

With 40 years experience in the recording and movie sound business before he began volunteering in 1975, Urschel brought a wealth of knowledge to the Colorado Talking Book Library’s recording studio. During his volunteer time, he shepherded the library through studio conversions, including the change from two-track to four-track recording methods, and now is mastering the digital technologies of the 21st century.

Urschel has assisted numerous volunteer narrators as their silent partner by monitoring the recording of an untold number of books, magazines and other written materials, including being volunteer monitor for such noted local dignitaries as Governor Dick Lamm and the late Gene Amole. At age 90, Urschel continues his commitment to life-long learning and volunteerism by working at the CTBL's recording studio regularly.

The Colorado Talking Book Library is a free service to Coloradans of all ages who are unable to read standard print material due to visual, physical or learning disabilities whether permanent or temporary. CTBL provides recorded, Braille and large-print books and magazines as well as a small collection of descriptive videos. Included in library’s collection is material recorded by volunteers in the CTBL recording studio. Books in this collection are by Colorado authors, about Colorado history or are of regional interest.

Urschel is just one of a large group of volunteers the library needs to help provide this excellent service to the eligible residents of Colorado. The library also uses volunteers to assist with mail, to monitor inventory, repair cassettes, duplicate cassette books and magazines, provide clerical support, review recorded books, and record materials requested by patrons of the library.

For information on The Colorado Talking Book Library visit