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Talking Books Talk

Talking Books Talk provides news and updates about the Kansas Talking Books Service (KTBS). Talking Books staff will highlight relevant announcements from KTBS and the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Questions: KTB@ks.gov or 800-362-0699

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Jan 13

Staff Spotlight - Suzanne Phillips

Posted on January 13, 2020 at 9:14 AM by Michael Lang


Woman standing in front of a bookcase wearing a black ESU SLIM polo.


Name: Suzanne Phillips

Job Title: Graduate Assistant

Job Duties: Cataloging and Audio Production

Years at Talking Books: This is my second semester as the GA for Talking Books

Hometown: Holden, Missouri

Favorite Book/Author/Series/Genre?
My favorite book is Persistence of Memory and it is by my favorite author, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Well Dr. Seuss is also my favorite author.

Have you ever faked reading a book?
I do not recall ever faking reading a book. Usually, if I do not like a book well enough to read it through, I do not bother finishing it. My mother told me once that life is too short to read a book you don’t like.

Best library memories:
Thursday was always library day at Grandma’s house. I loved going to my maternal grandma’s on Thursdays because she always tried to return her books on that day. This meant that I would get to pick out the children’s books for the week. I would study “every” book spine in the children’s section. I was allowed to select all twenty books if I was the only grandchild with her. I and my cousins took the job of picking grandma’s books seriously and we were carefully because they were the only books we would get for a while (as kids, a week seemed like forever).

First book you remember reading/being read to you?
The Golden Collection of Mother Goose Rhymes. It was my older sister’s favorite book and my mother read it to us often.

What is your favorite line from a book?
My favorite line is from Dr. Seuss’s I had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew. "But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!"

If you could have any famous person narrates any books, who would it be, which book & why? The person would be Emma Thompson and the book, Lizzie at Last. This was one of my favorite books growing up and I love Emma Thompson’s voice. She would do the book justice!

What do you find most interesting/rewarding about working at Talking Books?
I am thrilled that I am able to serve those who are unable to read books for themselves. Reading is what I and my siblings did when we were not playing outside. I am also related to people who would have and are benefiting from this service. I am proud and honored to be a part of this wonderful service. What I find most interesting about working for Kansas Talking Books is the audio editing process. I am still trying to learn the ins and outs but I enjoy it and I hope to improve with practice.