‘Radio Eye’ Finds New Home in Kentucky Library

By Mark Hoerrner

Radio Eye uses its ironic name to provide a special service to those with vision disabilities, bringing everyday publications into more than 3,000 households every day. But Radio Eye was almost a homeless orphan on the airwaves when the University of Kentucky told the non-profit to seek a new home last year.

Central Kentucky Radio Eye Inc. is a 24-hour operation for its staff of four who see that regular publications—newspapers, magazines and other daily periodical content—are read for its disabled audience, seeking to give listeners a greater handle on day to day events. The programming currently costs about $50,000 annually, and subscribers defray that amount by sending in a suggested donation of $25 in return for a special preprogrammed low-frequency radio. The program is open to anyone who has sight impairment or a disability that would prevent an individual from turning pages in a publication.

Being asked to leave the University of Kentucky might have signaled the end of CKRE, if the Lexington library system hadn’t entered the picture. Instead, the service’s new home could be the best thing that ever happened. The new partnership with the Lexington library system will give the radio station greater access to a library of information and allow the library the ability to assist with delivering a service reinforces its primary mission—the dissemination of printed paraphernalia—and builds on existing programs, such as "Book Buddies" outreach for individuals who cannot physically come to the library.

The service was started in 1988 by Dr. Alfred Crabb. Since then, the small staff has had the help of nearly 100 volunteers who read the publications and constitute the on-air talent. Also, CKRE reads the local Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper each morning on local access cable, reaching nearly 80,000 households six days a week. The cable channel is operated by the Lexington library system and will be part of the new digs at the revised central library.

Not only does the move make sense from the standpoint of the station no longer being welcome at the university, but also the library is planning an expansion that will triple its own space in addition to adding a custom area for the radio station and Cable Channel 20. Rather than having to blend into a studio at UK, the station is looking at a higher-profile residence with tailor-made surroundings. The new space will incorporate a large viewing window that will allow the public to watch taping sessions as they happen. The hope is to draw additional investors who will allow the non-profit to expand beyond its current listener base and offer the free service to a wider audience.

Both library officials and those behind CKRE appear to be happy with the new move.

"This new arrangement not only gives the library the chance to help a partner organization, it also allows the library to help publicize services for people who can no longer use the library’s regular books," Lexington Public Library Executive Director Kathleen Imhoff stated in a recent press release. "And people using the new library will be able to view the broadcast studio through a glass wall to observe firsthand this valuable area service."