Busy Einir loves her job as the Society's audio books co-ordinator
A "busy" woman from Bethesda has been appointed Welsh audio books co-ordinator for the North Wales Society of the Blind
Einir Wyn Williams succeeds Patsy West who has retired after spending seven years in the role.
Einir has Stargardts visual impairment which means she needs special machines to read small print.
Before joining the Society, Einir worked for the Post Office for 27 years.
She said: "I quit that job because I couldn't tell the difference between the different types of coins; the markings and colours.”
Einir is married to Chris and is mother to Enoc, 18 and Begw, 14 and stepmother to Cari, 17. She lives in Gerlan, Bethesda.
Einir loves her new job.
She said: "I'm used to working at the Post Office among people. I like working as a team helping each other.”
Until recently Einir was unaware the North Wales Society of the Blind had a resource centre in Bangor until she met the chief executive, Steven Thomas.
She said: "Then I came here to the centre and got some aids to help me cook and small lamps."
Also at the centre is the GWRANDO studio for recording spoken books and local papers.
As the Society's audio book co-ordinator, Einir chooses the books to be recorded as audio books.
Einir said: "We choose books that are in demand; books that have won at the Eisteddfod or have been chosen as book of the year.
"We produce 24 audio books each year; three different cycles; eight books in each cycle.
"There are four books for adults and four for children in each cycle; children under seven and over seven and for learners."
The Society produces the covers and distributes the audio books to 22 libraries throughout Wales.
Einir said: "We produce the audio books as CDs, MP3 and USBs and it is possible to borrow them through the libraries’ Borrowbox scheme by downloading them.
"The readers, who are mainly actors, come here to our GWRANDO studio to read the books and record with our sound engineer, Ieuan Clwyd Davies, who edits the recording. Then I listen and test the reading to see if it is correct.”
Einir works two days for the Society and as a county councillor the rest of the week after being elected Plaid Cymru county councilor for the Gerlan ward in Bethesda four years ago.
She is a member of the management board of the Eryri National Park, a director of Ogwen Partnership, is on the management board of Neuadd Ogwen and a Bethesda community councillor.
She is also a governor of Ysgol Abercaseg and Penybryn and Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen and on the Caban Gerlan committee.
At one time she kept Y Llangollen pub in Bethesda.
She said: "I'm one of these people who can't say no! I like to keep busy!"
Among Einir's other interests are going to the gym, weight lifting, swimming and walking in the mountains with her husband and friends.
She likes music and listening to bands at festivals.
Anyone is welcome to recommend a favourite book or books to be recorded as an audio book by contacting Einir 01248 353604 or gwrando@nwsb.org.uk
