Vespasian Warner Public Library in Clinton received $4211 to provide assistive technology book holders to patrons and area nursing homes.  Funds will be used to purchase three book holders and adaptive devices.

The following article was printed in the Clinton Daily Journal Newspaper on Friday, August 31:

DeWitt County Nursing Home resident, Beverly Willoughby, couldn't be happier, and it's because of a machine that will turn pages for her to allow her to read -- something which was an everyday part of her life until she was struck with Parkinson's disease.
 
Joan Rhoades, co-director of the Vespasian Warner Public Library, explained that Karen Nance, a volunteer at the nursing home, had expressed her concern over a need for something to help people like Willoughby so that they could continue to read.  Prior to speaking to Rhoades, Nance had done research and found a company based out of Minnesota that builds a machine called a Touch Turner, which, using different adapters, can turn the pages of a book without lifting a hand.

When Rhoades discovered that a "Read to Dream, Dream to Read" grant was available from the Rolling Prairie Library System that would help purchase the machine for the DeWitt County Nursing Home as well as Crestview Healthcare Center, she jumped at the chance.  But there was one stipulation.  "We couldn't submit the thing on paper," Rhoades said, explaining that the goal of the grant was to encourage innovative ideas.  That's when the Clinton Community High School TV production class came into the picture.

Rhoades explained that CCHS senior, Kelly Trummel, along with advisor, D. Ann Jones, spent a holiday weekend creating a video that explained the need for a page turning machine in the nursing homes.  "The video was extremely touching," Rhoades said, adding that Willoughby was willing to be interviewed for the video.  What made it so emotionally wrenching, she said, was when Willoughby simply stated, "The days are awfully long here."

Because of the work of the volunteers who put in their time, the library was able to obtain a $4,200 grant, which paid for three machines: one for both nursing homes and one for the library.

The Touch Turner works when the reader uses an adapter, depending upon the needs of the person, to let the machine know to turn the page.  A wheel that is covered with clay lifts up the page, sticks and pulls the page forward, and a lever then turns the page.  The reader can also turn back if he or she misses a page.  "It's a whole new way of looking at a book," said library co-director, Tom Rudasill.

The biggest concern was just that the residents of the nursing homes would be able to give them something to do during the days.  "Anything that makes their quality of life better, go for it," DeWitt County Nursing Home administrator, Hazel Riggs, said.

And though Willoughby should be proud that she helped the nursing home purchase the Touch Turner, she is modest.  "Joan did all the paperwork," she said.  But when asked if the machine was what she expected, she added, "It's more than I was hoping for."