[nfbmi-talk] Changes that BARD and NLS are making

[Mary Ann Robinson]

The following article, which appears in this week's edition of
> the Matilda
> Ziegler Magazine for the Blind, describes some of the
> enhancements to the
> BARD and NLS programs we can expect to see this year:
> Feature Writer John Christie - National Library Service Increases
> Reading
> Options
> The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
> Handicapped is
> making some positive changes to the Bard web site that I think
> you might
> like.  First and foremost, you will be able to read talking books
> on iPhones,
> iPads, and Android based mobile devices.  However, these mobile
> apps will
> have to protect Talking Books from unauthorized use.  All of
> their files will
> have to be encrypted so that only devices authorized by NLS and
> used by
> registered patrons will be able to access books.  This process
> was one of the
> biggest hurdles to overcome while they were developing the app.
> Plans are also in the works to distribute audio magazines
> including Talking
> Book Topics on digital cartridges.  At least three magazines can
> be put on a
> single digital cartridge.  Because of the higher cost of these
> cartridges,
> though, users will have to mail them back to the library so that
> more
> magazines can be put on them.
> Web-Braille, which was started in 1999, will be on the Bard
> website as well.
> Now, you will be able to download Braille magazines, music
> scores, and
> Braille books all from just one website.  Previously, Web-Braille
> had its own
> website.
> The NLS collection will now also have a broader selection of
> materials with
> synthetic-speech narration because they will be joining forces
> with
> commercial audiobook producers.  NLS still has to be granted
> permission from
> the rights holders to use commercial audiobooks, but they are
> constantly
> working on that issue.
> In recent years, audiobooks have come from one producer,
> Brilliance Audio.
> NLS has only had the money to obtain 200 audiobook titles a year.
> Now, they
> are reaching out to other audiobook publishers.  "For the most
> part, people
> are pretty happy with BARD: it is simple, it provides a basic
> need, and it
> does that well.  [But] it is growing like crazy, and we have to
> plan for
> that," said Michael Martys, an NLS automation officer.
> It costs $4,500 to produce a talking book from scratch.  However,
> it costs
> much less when you have the master files of a commercial
> audiobook.  This
> includes the work that NLS has to do with the book which includes
> navigational markup and metadata and convert the files into
> digital talking
> books.  Because the commercial audiobooks don't cost as much to
> produce, this
> could free up funds to produce more books each year.
> Working with commercial audiobook producers will also allow NLS
> to "get the
> book out much, much faster," said Neil Bernstein, NLS research
> and
> development officer.  And patrons will get to hear a wider
> variety of
> narrators--perhaps even discovering some new favorites.
> In the months ahead, NLS will evaluate the quality of various
> text-to-speech
> programs and begin to experiment with producing books using that
> technology--not to take the place of live narration, but to
> augment what
> they have.  For example, it could be used, by patron request, to
> produce
> download-only audio versions of books that are not in the
> collection.
> Finally, a remote control unit will be available for those with
> limited
> mobility and dexterity issues in early 2012.
> It's good that NLS is making an app for mobile apps.  It's also
> good that
> they are adding Web-Braille to their site and also adding
> commercially-available audiobooks to the Bard website.  These
> changes to the
> site, along with adding magazines, will make the site even more
> user
> friendly to the blind and visually impaired and will be a one
> stop resource
> for reading.
> Source:
>
http://www.loc.gov/nls/newsletters/news/2011/oct-dec.html