We offer two methods for enjoying talking books: utilizing our Digital Talking Book Players and the TBS bookshelf, or accessing audio and braille books via your personal mobile devices using the BARD app.
Digital Talking Book Players
Our library has digital talking book players available on loan for use with digital talking books from the National Library Service (NLS). If you have been approved for service and would like a player, please give us a call and we will send you one.
Digital Talking Book Players are available for enrolled patrons free of charge. The players play proprietary cartridges containing books and other recorded materials. There are two digital playback players available, describe below. Both models—standard and advanced—are compatible with the ANSI/NISO Z39.86 and DAISY 2.0 standards for digital talking books. The players have rechargeable batteries and offer readers high-quality sound, advanced navigation, and variable speed controls.
Playback equipment and accessories are supplied to eligible persons on extended loan. If this equipment is not being used for reading recorded material provided by Talking Book Services, please return it. Equipment and materials are the property of Talking Book Services and should not be sold, reproduced and/or copied.
Standard Player
| Name | Digital Standard Player (DS1) |
| Producer | NLS |
| Price | Free to users of the Talking Book Services |
| Supports | NLS digital talking books, Learning Ally |
| Supported file formats | AMR-WB+, DAISY 2.02, MP3, MPEG, RIFF, WAV |
| Media | Flash memory |
| Features | Large buttons, braille letters alongside the controls, sleep timer, built-in audio instructions, and the bookshelf feature for navigating a digital cartridge that contains more than one book or magazine |
| Operation | Rechargeable battery |
| Size | 6.2″ x 8.8″ x 1.7″ |
| Weight | 2.52 lbs. |
Advanced Player
| Name | Digital Advanced Player (DA1) |
| Producer | NLS |
| Price | Free to users of the Talking Book Services |
| Supports | NLS digital talking books, Learning Ally |
| Supported file formats | AMR-WB+, DAISY 2.02, MP3, MPEG, RIFF, WAV |
| Media | Flash memory |
| Features | Large buttons, braille letters alongside the controls, sleep timer, built-in audio instructions, and the bookshelf feature for navigating a digital cartridge that contains more than one book or magazine |
| Operation | Rechargeable battery |
| Size | 6.2″ x 8.8″ x 1.7″ |
| Weight | 2.52 lbs. |
How to use TBS Bookshelf
BARD and BARD Mobile App
BARD stands for Braille and Audio Reading Download. BARD (https://nlsbard.loc.gov) is a downloading service offered by the National Library Service (NLS) for its patrons. It allows registered users of the Talking Books program to download audio and braille books to a home computer and then listen to them on an authorized Talking Books player or send them to a braille display. BARD Mobile is a free app that allows registered BARD users access to download NLS audio and braille books to their personal mobile devices. The BARD Mobile app can be found on the Apple store, the Google Play store, and the Kindle store using the patron’s personal account.
Sign Up For BARD
BARD is available to registered patrons of Talking Book Services; if you are not already a patron, call 1-800-922-7818 to check your eligibility and apply for service. For current patrons:
- Go to https://nlsbard.loc.gov.
- Click on the link to BARD Application Instructions.
- On the next page there are links for Individual and Institutional BARD applications; choose the one that is appropriate for you. (Institutions are educational and medical facilities that are registered with TBS).
- Fill out the short online registration form completely then click “Submit”.
You will then receive an email with next steps.