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BARD Mobile

by Library of Congress

Rated: Guidance Suggested

217 customer ratings

Price: Free Download

Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC

Available instantly

This app needs permission to access:

FOREGROUND_SERVICE
Open network sockets

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Latest updates

What's new in this version

Version 1.3 includes:
update to 64 bit NDK and bug fixes

Product details

Original Release Date : 2015
Date First Available : January 29, 2018
Manufacturer : Library of Congress
ASIN : B016760320

Best Sellers Rank: #16,811 Free in Apps & Games (See Top 100 in Apps & Games)
- #54 in Book Readers & Players

Customer Reviews:
217 ratings

Developer info

Product features

Read talking books and magazines from NLS BARD on your Fire tablet
Fully accessible with VoiceView/TalkBack
Browse the BARD collection and download from your wish list
Read at speeds up to 300%
Built-in user guide

Product description

CARRY A LIBRARY IN YOUR POCKET

Access tens of thousands of books—from current best sellers to much-loved classics, popular magazines, and music instruction and scores in audio, with new selections added daily.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

To download books using this app, you must first apply for service from your local braille and talking-book library. You can find which library in the NLS network serves you by visiting www.loc.gov/nls/find.html or calling 1-800-NLS-READ. Your library can discuss eligibility with you and walk you through the application process.

If you are already registered for service with your local braille and talking-book library but do not have a BARD account, simply contact your library and request a user name and password.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

BARD Mobile is a service of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress. NLS provides free audio and braille reading materials to residents of the United States and American citizens living abroad who cannot read regular print books. If you are blind, low-vision, or have a physical disability that makes it difficult for you to hold or turn the pages of a book, you may be eligible for this program. For more information on eligibility, visit www.loc.gov/nls/about/eligibility-for-nls-services.

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?

Audio materials downloaded from BARD can be read directly on your Fire tablet.

Technical details

Size: 8.7MB

Version: 1.3

Developed By: Library of Congress ( Privacy Policy

)

Application Permissions: ( Help me understand what permissions mean )

FOREGROUND_SERVICE
Open network sockets
Read only access to device state
Get notified that the operating system has finished booting
Access the vibration feature
Access information about networks
Read from external storage
Write to external storage
Write data to internal storage

Minimum Operating System: Android 6.0

Approximate Download Time: Less than 90 seconds

Customer reviews

5 star		69%
4 star		8%
3 star		9%
2 star		6%
1 star		8%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from the United States

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Christine B.

Poor app

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2019

Verified Purchase

I got my mother-in-law on our state library system because she has macular degeneration, and is legally blind. She can see some things, but not well enough to read at all. When using the local Library To Go library system, I can fill her bookshelf from my computer, and she manages to download and play her audio books on her kindle. She chooses books by the color or patterns of the cover. She's running out of new books to read, so we applied to the state library. The Bard system is all words, no book images. I'm still struggling with how to load a bookshelf, and she can't tell how to download books or how to return them. I see her nearly every Sunday, and try to help, but it's so confusing. Half the time the books that appear on her kindle are books I never chose. I'm very frustrated with the system and find it hard to believe they wouldn't have something much simpler to use when their users are sight impaired. I'll need to find a tutorial I guess, but I hope the system gets a makeover...or the state library chooses a new app.

13 people found this helpful

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Comment

Bookjunky Pat

Hurray

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2016

Verified Purchase

I was so happy when Amazon got the mobile app for the NLS talking book program. When NLS went digital and gave us the ability to download our books rather than send tapes or cartridges back and forth in the mail things got so much better. The NLS talking book program is one that adds greatly to the quality of life and I am very happy Amazon is on board.

36 people found this helpful

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Robert A. Hansen

Keep those books coming for free.

Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2018

Verified Purchase

I have this app on other phones and devices. This is the first time that I found it on the Amazon Fire tablet but I've never had one before. If you're blind or visually impaired and meet certain requirements you can sign up for the National Library service talking book program and you can get this app. You don't have to have one of those physical tape players or digital talking book players anymore. You can sign right up and if you meet the qualifications to use the National Library service talking book program you can use this app on your Android device or your iPhone device. It's a great app and I really recommend it a lot.

19 people found this helpful

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Comment

Reviewer

Well, it does work to a certain extent.

Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2020

Verified Purchase

I wish they would make it easier to use. For example, the menus seem confusing. Maybe categories of literary genres would expedite searches. I do these searches for a blind person. Supposedly he should be able to do this himself, but I can't imagine how. To select recent additions, I have to scroll and read every single offering. It is a good thing I am a fast reader. If I add something to the wish list, I have to go back to the beginning.

I am hoping these are helpful suggestions because the service this app provides is very important. I do appreciate it.

One person found this helpful

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Comment

antoinette j. boyer

One really needs to know how to manage this app so that material can be downloaded to the device

Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2019

Verified Purchase

The written directions from the Library of Congress are different than the app, so I had to work with it in order to get it to function. Eventually, I was able to get the material downloaded that I wanted, but had to search around to do it. The Library was very eager to help out, so that was great.

2 people found this helpful

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Comment

The Web Woman

Not enough stars...

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2018

Verified Purchase

I use BARD constantly. It is intended for sight impaired individuals like myself and it allows me to still be the bookaholic I have been all my life. I read fiction and non fiction books and I love that I can literally carry a library in my pocket. Of course, you have to qualify as sight impaired in order to use it, but it has been a major blessing in my life. The program allows me to keep up with my favorite authors and learn many new things at the touch of a button on my phone or tablet. Not enough stars.

4 people found this helpful

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Comment

Allan T.

Easy and accessible

Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2019

Verified Purchase

I found the Bard Mobile app to be much easier and intuitive to use then I had expected. Basically I had heard complaints by other users a year or so ago and I had been unwilling to give it a try. After an incident with my normal Mp3 player, I was forced to give Bard a chance, and I was surprised at how easy the whole thing was to use and understand. I haven't had trouble with losing my place in a book, the app can be opened without having to log in every single time, and it keeps track of a lot more then the normal web page does on my laptop for easy access to downloaded content from other sources. What a blessing Bard and this app has been. If you are blind and have received access to Bard, don't ignore this valuable resource!

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

NSL mobile app,

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2019

Verified Purchase

seemed to work fine. Makes it easy by doing all the step for you and then you can just listen to your Audio book. One thing I noticed was fthe volume seemed very quit. saw not volume control .

4 people found this helpful

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