Florence Speer of Choteau received a very special gift from the Montana State Library for her 100th birthday.

Speer says she didn't read much before she started losing her eyesight, but now she has listened to 1,446 books since becoming legally blind.

Her favorite genre is mystery, but when asked which book is her favorite, she laughs and says, "Oh, I have so many, I can't remember."

And for her special birthday the Montana State Library gave her a new digital play back machine, which doesn't use tapes and is nearly half the weight and size of old tape players.

Lee Madison of the Montana State Library commented, "Florence's love for books is a treasure. Of course, as you know, as we get older we slow up and don't get out as much and this is a way to keep them active not only mentally but keep them up to date."

The library's Talking Book Division provides alternative reading materials for more than 2,500 Montanans with visual, physical, or reading challenges.

For Speer, the audio books are so enthralling they've even replaced other forms of entertainment; she noted, "I don't contribute a lot to the activities here because I can't see. So, I go up and shut my door, and listen to my books."

The state's Talking Book Library Division includes over 70,000 fiction and non-fiction titles, over 80 popular magazines, and a variety of descriptive VHS videos.

WEB EXTRA: you can learn more at the Montana State Library website; here's an excerpt:

Eligible Montana residents who are unable to use standard print materials due to visual, physical and/or reading disabilities can apply to the Montana Talking Book Library to receive free mail loan of recorded books and playback equipment.

Eligibility is determined based on National Library Service Standards. Currently, 2,600 eligible Montanans actively use this free service. The Montana Talking Books Library advises and assists individuals, other libraries, nursing homes, schools, and institutions in providing library services to eligible handicapped individuals.