NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity, the New Mexico State Library has a program where individuals can record audiobooks to add to the national catalog of books for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. "So the collection, we've done a mod est number of books by that. I mean, we've done, I think, the number is somewhere between 500 and 600 titles. And that's over the course of roughly 20 years. So we're doing somewhere in the area of 25 to 30 new titles a year," said John Mugford, regional librarian for the New Mexico Library for the Blind and Print Disabled. The books that are recorded at the New Mexico State Library are ones of local interest, typically nonfiction works. "Nonfiction is a little bit easier to read insofar as there's no dialogue involved. So there's not a need for the narrator to prepare for different inflections and tones on different characters' voices. And so our emphasis has been a bit more New Mexico history," Mugford. Volunteers also record themselves reading aloud magazines such as "El Palacio," a quarterly magazine produced by the Museum of New Mexico that tells stories about art, history, and culture of the Southwest. Story continues below Business: Two big New Mexico brands up for sale as owner looks toward retirement Education: Albuquerque high school students get up-close look at big-time film production News: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham authorizes National Guard deployment to ABQ In some cases, the library has gotten authors to read their own productions. The recording process mainly takes place at the New Mexico State Library, located at 1209 Camino Carlos Rey in Santa Fe. Volunteers are brought to a recording booth, and once they are finished reading, their audio will be reviewed for accuracy before it is digitally uploaded for distribution online. Regarding time, Mugford said a 240-page book roughly takes about eight hours of recording time, not including the review process. Volunteers are not expected to record books in one session. "I think, typically, most of our narrators come in at least once a week. Some come in twice a week. Usually, a reading session of an hour and a half is optimal. Most people can get through about 20 pages, an hour and a half, maybe 30 pages," Mugford explained. The library also offers volunteers to record in a quiet space in their home, such as a closet with clothes hanging up inside. The volunteers can then transfer files to the library; however, Mugford said it can be a time-consuming process on both ends, especially because the library has to convert the files into a specific format before uploading them online. Mugford said the library has considered creating recording booths in other parts of the state to make it easier for volunteers. "Maybe because of the distances, we've had difficulty in coordinating that kind of expanded statewide program. I think the potential is there, and it still is in our thoughts," he said. To learn more about the New Mexico State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled and how to access its resources, click here. ...read more read less