Tom Godell, WSIU station manager, said the merger is a natural one because SIUC has provided a small studio and a radio signal to SIRIS since the program began in 1984.

William Gilmore, director of SIRIS, said the merger will improve service for listeners and readers.

Our merger will enable us to take advantage of the University’s technical and administrative guidance and help us to recruit more volunteers, he said.

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Volunteers read newspapers, magazines, books and poetry and provide listeners with a link to current events and culture. Listeners pick up the broadcast by way of a special receiver placed free of charge in their homes.

John Miller, a 10-year SIRIS volunteer, said he agrees SIRIS will be more accessible to service groups and would-be readers.

Miller said he fell in love with reading in 1985 when he started volunteering.

It forced me to read, he said. Now I do it even if I’m on vacation. I just mail them the material on cassettes.

Rose Krumbacher, a Du Quoin listener, said the people of SIRIS have been really sweet to her. She said she depends on the service for information about current events and advertising.

Another listener, Marilyn Swinford of Herrin, hopes that more volunteers will mean local interest matters will be reported with greater frequency. With a day job in the school system, she said she often misses out on those broadcasts.

Novels and poetry are available on tape in local bookstores or by subscription, she said. What’s hard to get is current events and magazine articles.

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The service was started in 1984 by Rich and Valerie Page with support from seven nearby United Way chapters. Today SIRIS has 700-900 listeners. Currently, SIRIS is looking for volunteer readers.

For more information, call SIRIS at 453-4343.