Orkney Talking Newspaper started in 1983 with a meeting between just three people. Using very basic equipment and supported by a handful of volunteers the first master tape was created on a borrowed tape recorder in a room at the Council Offices. The tapes were then sent out to 15 listeners.
Things moved on and the recordings progressed to being made digitally and supplied on CDs and more recently USB sticks. Recording and production moved to a dedicated room within the Orkney Library.
Each week volunteers prepare the script and dispatch the recordings to approximately 60 recipients with one listener in Canada accessing via the podcast.
They now have 40 enthusiastic volunteers and were awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Award for voluntary service by groups in the community in 2004.
