[Dtb-talk] Changes to BARD

Wed Nov 28 15:05:28 UTC 2012

I would urge people to not speculate about things when there is a lack of information.  Yes, we all wish for a smoother implementation -- but NLS folks aren't idiots.  There was a test site, which must have worked or they wouldn't have tried to go into production.  Give them the benefit of the doubt.  I am sure they don't like the situation any better than us.  

Sometimes things are beyond our control -- and I am sure they will get it up and working.  In the greater scheme of things this is no big deal!

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: Dtb-talk [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Peter Donahue
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 8:40 PM
To: Discussion of Digital Talking Books
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] Changes to BARD

Good evening everyone,

    We're experiencing the same thing here. I'd like to know what happened to sandboxing a Web site under development before the production version is launched to troubleshoot problems like this? This is not good.

Peter Donahue

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Barbour" <jbar at barcore.com>
To: "Discussion of Digital Talking Books" <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 4:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] Changes to BARD

So, the bard site is back up.  However, I'm curious if anyone has
successfully downloaded and unzipped a book?

I've downloaded two books several times and they both are invalid zip
files.

I plan to let NLS know, but I was curious if this is a systemic
problem.

Jim

On Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 05:19:39PM -0800, Mike Freeman wrote:
> I think only the Braille files will have this "problem" anyway.
>
> Mike
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dtb-talk [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary 
> Donahue
> Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 12:01 PM
> To: 'Discussion of Digital Talking Books'
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] Changes to BARD
>
> Hello Mike and everyone,
>
> Agreed. I am always renaming files downloaded from Web Braille, and the 
> volume number is always included. I usually delete the book number. BARD 
> files would not be any different.
>
> Mary Donahue
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dtb-talk [mailto:dtb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike 
> Freeman
> Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 11:53 AM
> To: Discussion of Digital Talking Books
> Subject: Re: [Dtb-talk] Changes to BARD
>
> Have you forgotten how to rename a file? I rather like the book number in 
> the file name. Different strokes ...
>
> Mike Freeman
> sent from my iPhone
>
> On Nov 23, 2012, at 8:53, "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com> wrote:
>
> > Hello everyone,
> >
> >    This is great news. Our only wish for the future is to have the
> > book title used in the filename followed by a volume number in the
> > case of multiple volume books for easier identification. Instead of
> > 01234567891.brf, 01234567892.brf the titles could read:
> > Thunderdog1.brf, Thunderdog2.brf making them easier to find in one's
> > collection. I used ThunderDog as an example because Mary recently
> > downloaded it from Web Braille. Here's hoping this suggestion will be
> > implemented in the future if it hasn't been done so all ready. All the 
> > best for a belated Happy Thanksgiving from the Donahue's.
> >
> > Peter Donahue
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
> > To: <dtb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 10:25 AM
> > Subject: [Dtb-talk] Changes to BARD
> >
> >
> > Among other things, NLS is putting the B in BARD.  The following
> > information went out today
> > -- the site will change next Tuesday, the 27th of November.
> >
> > Dave
> >
> >
> > Hello, List Members,
> >
> > We are excited to tell you that a major update to BARD will be
> > released next Tuesday, November 27.
> > Here is what will happen before the update and what to expect once the
> > update is complete.
> >
> > As you may have noticed, there's a BARD alert up to remind everyone
> > that The Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) will be down for at
> > least twenty-four hours beginning at midnight on Sunday, November 25,
> > while we migrate to the new system. On Tuesday, November 27, the new
> > BARDfeaturing Web-Braille materials, the wish list, and other
> > additionswill be available at https//nlsbard.loc.gov.
> >
> > BARD users will receive a message summarizing the new materials and
> > features the first five times they log in to BARD after Tuesday,
> > November 27.
> >
> > Once BARD has been updated, you will be able to log in with the same
> > email address and password you use now. You'll notice the following
> > differences:
> >
> > Web-Braille is now part of BARD. On every page containing books or
> > magazines, you'll find links to both audio and braille titles. These
> > links are always at heading 1, so you can easily find the book format
> > you want. Audiobooks are always listed first. Also, if you only want
> > to see one type of book, you can set this up by choosing the Account
> > Settings link on the BARD main page and then making your choice in the
> > Display Results combo box. This page also gives you the option to
> > display the site in color or black and white, which may help some of
> > you to see it better.
> >
> > Braille books are in zip files. Each zip file contains all the volumes
> > of that book. So to read a braille book, unzip the book to a folder,
> > copy that unzipped folder's contents to a braille-aware notetaker or
> > computer with a braille display, open the volume you want, and start
> > reading.
> >
> > Braille music scores and audio music instruction courses are now on
> > BARD. So are books, both braille and audio, that are produced by NLS
> > network libraries.
> >
> > BARD book listings are formatted as they always were, except that each
> > book title is now a link.
> > If you choose that link, you go to a page with several new features.
> > These include:
> >
> > . The author's name is a link that takes you to a page displaying all
> > the books on BARD by that author.
> > . If the book is part of a series, there is a Series link that will
> > take you to a page listing all the books on BARD in the series. Note
> > that this section is still under development, so not all books in the
> > series may be listed.
> > . If the book is listed under more than one subject, all the subjects
> > are listed, and each is a link to all the books on BARD with that
> > subject. This also means that if you browse by subject on BARD,
> > Bestseller will now include all books with the subject Bestseller.
> > . The narrator's name is a link that will take you to a page listing
> > other books read by that narrator.
> > . There is a link that will add the book to a wish list. This is handy
> > if you don't want to download the book now but would like to be able
> > to locate it later.
> > . There are additional details, such as the book's ISBN.
> >
> > You can now see a list of all the books and magazines you have
> > downloaded. To do this, follow the My Previous Downloads link on the
> > main page.
> > The My Wish List link is there, too. Both are level 3 headings, making
> > it easy to find them.
> >
> > For a more detailed description of the changes, visit
> >
> > https://nlsbard.loc.gov/NLS/NewBARDOverview.html
> >
> > Since these are major changes, you may experience some problems with
> > the site at first. If so, please be patient and know that NLS is
> > working to fix problems as quickly as possible. If a problem doesn't
> > go away after a day or two, however, feel free to contact your
> > library.
> >
> > We hope you enjoy this new version of BARD.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > The BARD Technical Support Team
> > NLS BARD Technical Support
> > e-mail: NLSDownload at loc.gov
> > Read the BARD FAQ at: https://nlsbard.loc.gov/NLS/FAQ.html