[stylist] Improved Access to Digital Download Books for Blind and Low Vision U.S. Citizens

Wed May 27 10:41:03 UTC 2009

the site for NLS downloadable books is:

https://nlsbard.loc.gov

Dave

At 09:07 PM 5/25/2009, you wrote:
>Lori, Is there a site anyone can access for talking books?  If there 
>is such a site, can you give the address?  Thanks, Judith
>----- Original Message ----- From: <LoriStay at aol.com>
>To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009 8:35 PM
>Subject: Re: [stylist] Improved Access to Digital Download Books for 
>Blind and Low Vision U.S. Citizens
>
>
>>FYI
>>In a message dated 5/25/09 4:48:28 PM, nicolas.lagace at humanware.com writes:
>>
>>
>>>IMPROVED ACCESS TO DIGITAL DOWNLOAD BOOKS FOR BLIND AND LOW VISION U.S.
>>>CITIZENS
>>>
>>>[This announcement is displayed in text only for accessibility with
>>>Braille Notetakers. A web version is available at:
>>>http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/about_us/press_releases/2009_press_releases/improved_access_to_digital_dow
>>>nload_books]
>>>
>>>Longueuil, May 25, 2009
>>>
>>>On April 30, the National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
>>>(NLS), a division of the Library of Congress in the United States, entered
>>>the first phase of its transition to a digital playback system, as well as
>>>releasing an upgraded version of its pilot download website. Beginning
>>>with the testing of 5,000 digital players by NLS patrons in their homes, NLS
>>>is preparing to launch full-scale production and distribution of 26,000
>>>machines per month this year, ensuring continued access to reading materials
>>>for more than 500,000 registered users.
>>>
>>>New to the NLS program is a state of the art online component, called the
>>>Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) site. This new site for blind and
>>>physically handicapped patrons of NLS now provides better than ever access
>>>to digital audiobooks and magazines. The BARD digital books and magazines
>>>are in the ANSI/NISO Z39.86 2002 format, the specification for navigable
>>>digital talking books. Readers may press buttons on the NLS digital
>>>talking-book player and compatible players to jump from chapter to 
>>>chapter, section
>>>to section or page to page. This ability to quickly navigate the book
>>>structure, combined with the high-quality human recording, make 
>>>the new digital
>>>NLS download books one of the most significant advancements in the
>>>provision of talking books for blind and low vision people.
>>>
>>>"The high quality navigable digital books from the new NLS BARD service
>>>represent a major advancement in access to books, magazines, and electronic
>>>braille for Americans who are unable to read print due to blindness, low
>>>vision, or physical disability", says Gilles Pepin, CEO of HumanWare. "With
>>>BARD, NLS brings its library into the home of its patrons. Not only do NLS
>>>patrons now have access to thousands of digital books but they can 
>>>find their
>>>book of interest and download it in minutes independently and from the
>>>comfort of their home computer."
>>>
>>>HumanWare manufactures the popular Victor Reader Stream, a DAISY NISO
>>>compatible digital talking-book player designed in collaboration with the
>>>National Federation of the Blind (NFB), which several thousand NLS patrons
>>>already use to play the new digital NISO books. The NLS digital books on the
>>>BARD site are protected by encryption and compatible digital book 
>>>players must
>>>be authorized by NLS for eligible patrons to play the books.
>>>
>>>The ability to press buttons on the Victor Reader Stream to easily jump
>>>between chapters, pages, or magazine articles, like the NLS digital
>>>talking-book player, provides a rich audiobook reading experience 
>>>never before
>>>experienced by audiocassette readers. For reference books such as 
>>>cookery books
>>>the user can even enter a page number from the table of contents on the
>>>Stream telephone-style number pad and the playback will move immediately to
>>>that page. With the NLS player, Victor Reader Stream, and the NLS 
>>>BARD books,
>>>users now have immediate access to thousands of books and can navigate
>>>them just like they would navigate the equivalent print book's structure.
>>>
>>>The new BARD download audiobook and magazine service is available free of
>>>charge to eligible blind and physically handicapped individuals in the U.S.
>>>and to citizens living abroad, who have access to a computer and
>>>high-speed Internet connection, and who have a free NLS digital 
>>>talking-book player
>>>or own an authorized compatible digital talking-book player such as
>>>HumanWare's Victor Reader Stream. To learn more about the new BARD 
>>>service visit
>>>https://nlsbard.loc.gov/
>>>
>>>About HumanWare
>>>
>>>HumanWare is the global leader in assistive technologies for vision,
>>>including products for the blind and visually impaired. HumanWare's products
>>>include BrailleNote, the leading productivity device for blind people in
>>>education, in business and in their personal lives; the Victor 
>>>Reader product
>>>line, the world's leading digital talking book players; and myReader2, the
>>>new version of HumanWare's unique "auto-reader" for people with low vision.
>>>For more information visit www.humanware.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>This email was sent to LoriStay at aol.com.
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>>
>>
>>
>>
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