[Nfb-krafters-korner] off topic; changes to BARD site

[Cathy]

Thought this might be of interest to many.

 

Cathy

 

 

Looks like there are quite a few changes coming to the Bard site. Not sure
when these changes are going to take place.

 

BARD Detailed Modifications Summary

New materials on BARD

Braille materials-The more than 12,000 Braille books and magazines currently

 

available through Web-Braille will be added to BARD. Braille materials will
continue to be accessible through active links in the NLS catalog as well as

 

through the web version of Braille Book Review. The current Web-Braille site

 

will be phased out between three and six months after the new release of
BARD.

Music books and scores-The more than 2,000 Braille music materials currently

 

available through Web-Braille will be added to BARD. Most of these titles
are scores (sheet music) for various instruments, including voice; there are

 

also many standard music textbooks and method books. Braille music materials

 

on BARD will have the prefix BRM.

The audio materials that will be available are instructional guides by
instrument or music-appreciation presentations. Audio materials from the NLS
Music Section on BARD will have the prefix DBM.

 

Locally produced materials-The more than 2,000 locally produced Braille
materials currently available through Web-Braille will be added to BARD. 

Other materials that are submitted to NLS by network libraries and external
agencies, mostly books and magazines of local and regional interest, will
soon be available on BARD. These materials will be identified by the
prefixes BRC, DBC, or DBN.

 

New features on BARD

Details page-Each summary listing will soon be followed by a link to the
title's details page, which will feature all of the information from the
summary entry along with additional bulleted notes such as navigation
information for audiobooks, the transcribing agency for braille books, and
the producer (for both braille and audio titles), as well as other
information from the NLS International Union Catalog. After the bulleted
notes you will find the link to download the title and a link that will
allow you to add the title to your wish list (described below). If a book
has been removed from BARD because there is something wrong with the digital

 

file, the date that NLS uploads the new, corrected file will appear on the
details page below the Add to Wish List link.

Wish list-The My Wish List page was created to provide a place where you can

 

store and access titles that you want to download at a later date. To add
titles to your wish list you will select the Add to Wish List link which
will soon be located on the details page. Once added the titles will be
listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recently added title
displaying first. Each title will be presented with its summary information
and two links-one to download the title, the other to delete the title from
the wish list. Titles will be automatically deleted once you have downloaded

 

them. Titles that are already on your wish list will not display the Add to
Wish List link on the details page.

Previous downloads-The My Previous Downloads page will display a list of all

 

of the titles you have downloaded in reverse chronological order, starting
with the most recent. Each title will have all of its summary information as

 

well as the date that you downloaded it and a link to download the title
again.

Author search-You will be able to access a list of downloadable books by the

 

same author by selecting that author's name on the title's details page. 

BARD will search for all titles available by that author and display them in

 

alphabetical order.

Subject search-You will be able to access a list of downloadable books in
the same subject category by selecting the desired subject on the details
page of a title. BARD will search for all titles available in that same
subject category and display them in alphabetical order.

Narrator search-You will be able to access a list of downloadable books by
the same narrator by selecting that narrator's name on the title's details
page. BARD will search for all titles narrated by that person and display
them in alphabetical order.

Series search-You will be able to access a list of downloadable books in a
series by selecting the series title on the details page. BARD will search
for all titles available in that series and display them in the series
order.

Other changes

Display options

With the incorporation of braille materials on BARD you will have the
ability to choose which format(s) you would like to display (braille and/or
audio). To display either audio materials, braille materials, or both,
select the Update Account Settings link toward the bottom of the page. Use
the combo box next to the language "display format results," to select Audio

 

Only, Braille Only, or Both. Note that the default is set to Both.

When your settings are set to display both audio and braille materials,
braille listings will always follow audio listings with the exception of
those in your individual wish and previous downloads lists. In the recently
added and most popular books pages audiobook listings will be presented
first, with a link at the top of the page to go directly to the braille
results (Skip to Braille). Materials will be presented this way (audio
first, then braille, with a link at the top to skip to braille

results) consistently throughout the search and browse functions except in
the magazine title list-where they are presented in alphabetical order with
the format following the title.

Additionally you will be able to limit your search and browse results to
display only books and musical scores that were either produced by or
specially acquired by NLS using a check box. This search limitation will not

 

apply to magazines. Note that the check box default is set to display all
books and musical scores on BARD.

Main page arrangement

The headings on the main page have been altered to include the new materials

 

(braille music scores and sports schedules). Magazines will be included in
the Recently Added Books list. There will also be several new links on the
main page. One is a link to a page that will feature the music collection
(instructional audio materials and braille scores) and will provide search
and browse functions that result in music materials only. The second new
link will be to a page that features your customizable wish list. And the
third is a link to a page that will display your previous downloads.