Staff at all branches of the Mercer County Library System have been trained to assist in the use of BARD – the Braille and Audio Reading Download service, offered by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress.
Service is provided through the New Jersey State Library TBBC – Talking Book and Braille Center. MCLS staff can act as a certifying authority for individual applications to the TBBC to obtain access to BARD.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is BARD?
BARD – the Braille and Audio Reading Download service, “offers downloadable books and magazines for patrons who are unable to read standard print due to a visual, print, or physical disability” (Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) | New Jersey State Library).
Once registered for the program, residents will be able to select from these no-cost services:
- Audiobook player
- Audiobooks
- Braille books
- Downloadable audiobooks, audio magazines & Braille
- BARD Mobile app for Android, Apple & Kindle Fire devices
- News reading service, Newsline
How do I register for BARD?
In order to register for BARD, you must first be registered with TBBC. If you are not a member of TBBC, call 1-800-792-8322 for an application or…
- Download and fill out the individual application in a preferred format: Word or Spanish.
- Visit an MCLS branch to complete the application and have it certified by one of our trained staff members.
- Certified applications can be e-mailed to tbbc@njstatelib.org; faxed to 609-406-7181, or mailed to P.O. Box 501, Trenton, NJ 08625.
- Once approved to participate (you will receive an e-mail), register online at the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled – Library of Congress for a BARD account or call the TBBC at 1-800-792-8322.
For more information, see: Apply for Service and its FAQs.
If under the age of 18, please ensure the Parental Acknowledgement Form is filled out and returned to the TBBC.
How do I use BARD?
Once you have been approved and registered with BARD, you’re all set to download digital magazines and books.
For additional assistance, contact your local branch of the Mercer County Library System – Branches – Mercer County Library System (mcl.org).
- If you have an Apple, Android, or Amazon Fire device, use the BARD Mobile App.
- Helpful videos for the BARD Mobile app can be found on the BARD Mobile ‘How-To Series’ YouTube playlist.
- BARD users can log in here.
- BARD use and downloading instructions can be found here.
- If you are using the digital talking book player, you can download to a cartridge and play audiobooks & audio magazines on the machine. Here are tips:
- Use a flash drive that is between 2 and 8 gigabytes.
- Your flash drive must be clean with no files on it.
- Always format your flash drive before you use it.
- If you have a Windows computer, download using the BARD Express software that you will find on the BARD main page. Scroll down to “Additional Links” and look for BARD Express. Download the software to your computer.
Where can I download the mobile app?
