If you’re reading this, you probably don’t tune in to Minnesota’s Radio Talking Book service. It’s a 24-hour closed-circuit radio network serving more than 7,500 blind listeners in Minnesota and South Dakota.

“Blindness can be very isolating, so people love us. They say they could not live without the service — it enables them to stay connected with the world,” says manager Stuart Holland.

Volunteers read newspapers, magazines and 28 books each month, all handpicked by Holland, who looks for titles in all genres, paying special attention to Minnesota authors. Mary Logue, Pamela Carter Joern, Monica Ferris and David Mura are recent picks.

Holland, a passionate lover of literature, avoids bestsellers, as those are typically picked up by the National Library Service for DVD editions. This year marks the 40^th anniversary of Minnesota’s RTB service, which was the first of its kind in the world; today, 140 others exist.

Holland credits the state’s heritage with the concept. “A culture is always tied to its original roots, and Minnesota’s founders were Scandinavian pioneers. Scandinavians highly value social service, and pioneers looked out for one another,” he says.

Rebroadcasts of the Twin Cities Public Television documentary, “On Air: 40 Years of the Radio Talking Book,” are scheduled this month on the statewide digital MN Channel TPT 17. Showings are scheduled on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 29 at 1:30 a.m.; and Thursday, Jan. 29 at 7:30 a.m.