[NFB-Seniors] BARD - different types, and for different devices

Tue Nov 24 17:36:24 UTC 2020

I use bard on my Victor stream and victor trek, it works quite well. I've
had over a thousand books on my SD card of my Victor trek, I only have
around 475 books on it right now.

Les fitzpatrickPiano Technician
Ham call K5FPT

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Seniors <nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Robert
Leslie Newman via NFB-Seniors
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2020 6:16 AM
To: NFB Senior Division list <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org>; 'Nebraska Senior
Blind Info and Discussion List' <nebraska-senior-blind at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Robert Leslie Newman <robertleslienewman at gmail.com>
Subject: [NFB-Seniors] BARD - different types, and for different devices

Hi You All

RE: There are many Roads to BARD; for computers, mobile devices, and support

I recently found this information in an email list. If you are subscribed to
NLS BARD from the Library of Congress, there are several ways to access
BARD, and some of you know this, but I bet a lot of you do not! This post
will help you understand what they are, and how they work. It is always
smart to know your options!

*#1 BARD from your computer:

Once you have your password, you can download books with a computer. From
any web browser, log in to https://nlsbard.loc.gov.

If you have a Windows-based computer, the books you have downloaded will go
to your Downloads folder by default. Extract the files to a folder, and then
copy that folder to a blank cartridge or USB flash drive. When this
cartridge or USB drive is connected to your Digital Talking Book Machine,
the machine will recognize each folder as a separate book and will play your
books accordingly.

You can download books to a MAC as well. Downloaded books will go to your
Downloads folder by default. If you use Safari's default settings, the books
are automatically extracted to folders. Copy each folder to a cartridge or
USB flash drive.

All cartridges and most flash drives are formatted properly to accept your
downloaded BARD books.

BARD EXPRESS

If you want to download books and magazines from BARD with a computer but
find the whole process of downloading, unzipping, and transferring materials
a bit overwhelming, BARD Express is a perfect alternative. You can download
BARD Express to your Windows computer from the BARD website. Installation is
quick and easy, and Help is readily available at any time from within BARD
Express.

Once BARD Express is installed, you need to log in only once. After learning
just a few keyboard commands - Control-S for Search, Control-B for
Bookshelf, Control-M for Main Menu, and so on - you can download books to
play on your Digital Talking Book Machine or a commercial player such as the
Victor Reader Stream. Once you're logged in, press the Tab key to move
through the choices you would see as headings on the BARD website, such as
Recently Added Books and Magazines, Most Popular Books, and Wish List. The
Tab, Arrow keys, and Spacebar are all you need to explore this user-friendly
program. With a USB flash drive, cartridge, or SD card attached to your
computer, BARD Express does all the downloading, unzipping, and transferring
for you. Press F1 for help at any time, or check out the Help menu for more
options.

*#2 BARD Mobile - iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire

If you have a smartphone or tablet, you can probably use it to play your
BARD books and magazines. To get the application, search for "bard mobile"
in your device's app store. For iOS products running iOS 11 or later, look
for NLS BARD in the App Store. For Android products running version 6 or
later, go to the Google Play Store. And for Fire tablets running 8th
generation or later, download BARD Mobile from Amazon.

While each version is slightly different, the basic components of BARD
Mobile are the same. You can browse BARD, add books to your Wish List,
download books, and play them from your Bookshelf. You can store as many
books in your BARD Mobile Bookshelf as your device's memory or storage card
allows. BARD Mobile will always keep your place in every book you are
reading. You can add bookmarks to return to favorite locations in a book or
magazine and you can keep your books for as long as you like.

If you have an iOS device and a compatible braille display, you can download
braille books from BARD to that device and then pair it with a braille
display for reading. 

*Summary: Many Roads, One Account

If you have a BARD account, you can access that account in any or all of the
ways described. You might download some books with BARD Express for playing
on your Digital Talking Book Machine and other books to your smartphone for
listening on the go.

Whether you use a web browser, BARD Express, or BARD Mobile, you have just
one set of login credentials: your email address and password.

*When You need Help

If you need help with BARD, please contact us at NLSDownload at loc.gov

Be sure to tell us which BARD service you are using and on which device. The
more information we have, the more efficiently we can get you back to
reading.

However you access BARD, we wish you happy downloading and reading!

Respectfully yours,

Robert Leslie Newman

NFB seniors division, Second Vice President

NFB of Nebraska Senior Division. President

NFB of Nebraska Omaha Chapter, Secretary

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