Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) is a service of the National Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) which is available to Kansas Talking Books patrons. BARD offers more than 150,000 accessible titles for a variety of devices.
BARD users must be current, active Kansas Talking Books patrons, have a valid email address and internet connection. Below are details on the many ways and devices you can use BARD to download titles to play on digital talking book machines (DTBM) or on mobile devices.
Fill out the application completely. If approved you will receive an email message with sign-on information. If there is an issue you will receive a message explaining the problem.
Kansas Talking Book patrons should select KS - The State Library of Kansas, Talking Book Services (in Emporia KS) to begin the application process.
NLS hosts a BARD event monthly on the second Thursday at 6:00 p.m. (Central Standard). These events are held virtually and open to all. The events are recorded. The previous event recordings are great learning sessions for BARD users.
BARD is accessible on Windows and Apple computers and laptops. Users download books and magazines from the website to a flash drive, then insert flash drive in the DTBM.
A Windows desktop application to facilitate searching, downloading and transferring reading materials to a flash drive.
Apple devices, such as iPhones and iPads, have features, like Voice Over, which make BARD Mobile for iOS fully accessible.
Android phones and tablets, such as Google Pixel and phones made by Samsung or LG, are compatible with BARD Mobile to listen to books.
Kindle Fire is a tablet by Amazon with a specific BARD Mobile app.
BARD content can be read with refreshable braille displays, sometimes referred to as braille eReaders. These are devices with small pins that electronically move up and down through holes representing a braille cell. They refresh for each line of braille as users move their fingers across the cells as if reading braille on paper.
A commercial or third-party handheld, pocket size digital media player with wireless connection able to access BARD directly or access material downloaded to SD card that is then inserted into the device.
An easy to use smartphone with tactile keypad, voice control and more features, that can access BARD via mobile app.
Chromebooks are laptops using a specific Google operating system.
1 Kellogg Circle
PO Box 4055
Emporia KS 66801
Monday-Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.