Announcements and Notices

Many Faces of BARD: September 11, 2025

The topic for the Thursday, September 11, 2025, Many Faces of BARD program will be BARD 2.0: Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Experience. The program will begin with a presentation, followed by questions about the presentation or anything else relating to BARD.

These meetings are not hosted by the Florida Braille and Talking Book Library, however, they are hosted by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress, for all users.

The program will begin at 7:00 p.m. eastern time and last for one hour. NLS will record this program. The session can be joined by going to: https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1608622288?pwd=O7LV8OSBUTjaidCWfz5jzcatad5aPc.1 
Remember that the meeting is recorded. Do not speak if you do not wish to be on the recording. If you wish to speak, you may request to do so by raising your hand. On a PC, press Alt Y to toggle raising and lowering your hand; on a Mac, press Option Y; and if dialing in via telephone, press Star 9. To mute or unmute yourself on a PC, press Alt A; on a Mac, press Command-Shift A; and on a telephone, press Star 6. If you choose to dial in to the call, use the telephone numbers provided below. The Zoom.gov ID will not work with standard Zoom.us.

The complete Zoom invitation is below. To review past programming, please go to https://www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/many-faces-of-bard.

Join Zoom Meeting
One tap mobile US: +16692545252,,1601872197# or +16469641167,,1601872197#
Meeting URL https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1601872197?pwd=kIgta2UfCjaXtPP7bAE8wGkCE0aNyX.1

Meeting ID: 160 187 2197
Passcode: 449427
Join by Telephone
Dial:
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
Meeting ID:  160 187 2197
International numbers

BARD 2.0 Office Hours: Sept 16 thru Nov 25

The Patron Engagement Section is offering a new program to assist patrons using the new BARD 2.0 website. BARD 2.0 Office Hours will be held each Tuesday night from 8:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., starting September 16, 2025, and ending November 25, 2025. Each session will be informal in structure, specifically designed to assist patrons as they learn and use the new BARD website.
These meetings are not hosted by the Florida Braille and Talking Book Library, however, they are hosted by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress, for all users.

Sessions will not begin with a presentation and will not be recorded. Patron questions will be addressed on a first come, first served basis. Staff will share their screen reader sound for the patrons as they answer patron questions and demonstrate features.

This program is a limited series as we roll out new products. The Zoom link for this program will remain the same. The session can be joined by going to
https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1614022132?pwd=dXpMb93HfrUi17rM3a8UNd3d8OSwtY.1  Remember that this meeting will not be recorded. If you wish to speak, you may request to do so by raising your hand. On a PC, press Alt Y to toggle raising and lowering your hand; on a Mac, press Option Y; and if dialing in via telephone, press Star 9. To mute or unmute yourself on a PC, press Alt A; on a Mac, press Command-Shift A; and on a telephone, press Star 6. If you choose to dial in to the call, use the telephone numbers provided below. The Zoom.gov ID will not work with standard Zoom.us.

The complete Zoom information is located below.

Join Zoom Meeting
One tap mobile: US: +16692545252,,1614022132# or +16468287666,,1614022132#
Meeting URL: https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1614022132?pwd=dXpMb93HfrUi17rM3a8UNd3d8OSwtY.1
Meeting ID: 161 402 2132
Passcode: 342222
Join by Telephone
Dial:
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
Meeting ID: 161 402 2132
International numbers

Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker: September 18, 2025

The topic for the Thursday, September 18, 2025, Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker online program will be Everyday Use Examples for My Talking Books, Part 2. After the presentation and demonstration, we will answer any questions you have about the My Talking Books skill for Alexa-enabled smart speakers.

These meetings are not hosted by the Florida Braille and Talking Book Library, however, they are hosted by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress, for all users.

The program will begin at 7:00 p.m. eastern time and last for one hour. NLS will record this program. The session can be joined by going to https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1602055186?pwd=fytpaeXifVxEH255IceJ94mcBu1csG.1   

Remember that the meeting is recorded. Do not speak if you do not wish to be on the recording. If you wish to speak, you may request to do so by raising your hand. On a PC, press Alt Y to toggle raising and lowering your hand; on a Mac, press Option Y; and if dialing in via telephone, press Star 9. To mute or unmute yourself on a PC, press Alt A; on a Mac, press Command-Shift A; and on a telephone, press Star 6. If you choose to dial in to the call, use the telephone numbers provided below. The Zoom.gov ID will not work with standard Zoom.us.

The complete Zoom invitation is below.  To review past programming, please go to https://www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/smart-speaking-to-the-smart-speaker.

Join Zoom Meeting

One tap mobile: US: +16692545252,,1617773696# or +16468287666,,1617773696#

Meeting URL: 

https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1617773696?pwd=ax2Z0CCdoerpbKtNwHphheAuAu3Ykw.1

Meeting ID: 161 777 3696
Passcode: 423392

Join by Telephone
Dial:
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
Meeting ID:  161 777 3696

International numbers

That All May eRead: September 30, 2025

The topic for the Tuesday, September 30, 2025, That All May eRead online program will be NLS eReader Searching: Tips and Tricks. We will open the program with a brief presentation and demonstration and then we will answer your questions about the Zoomax and HumanWare Braille eReaders for the remainder of the hour.

These meetings are not hosted by the Florida Braille and Talking Book Library, however, they are hosted by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress, for all users.

The program will begin at 7 p.m. eastern time and will last for one hour. To access the program, go to https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1600222400?pwd=4laeaft2Upzed3CbsPRUKq8xGdTXMC.1 .
Remember that the meeting is recorded. Do not speak if you do not wish to be on the recording. If you wish to speak, you may request to do so by raising your hand. On a PC, press Alt Y to toggle raising and lowering your hand; on a Mac, press Option Y; and if dialing in via telephone, press Star 9. To mute or unmute yourself on a PC, press Alt A; on a Mac, press Command-Shift A; and on a telephone, press Star 6. If you choose to dial in to the call, use the telephone numbers provided below. The Zoom.gov ID will not work with standard Zoom.us.

You can find recordings of previous That All May eRead programs on the NLS website at www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/that-all-may-eread.

The complete Zoom information is located below.

Join Zoom Meeting
One tap mobile: US: +16692545252,,1604021014# or +16468287666,,1604021014#
Meeting URL: https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1604021014?pwd=ngPoi54Do7qbRtRjNdIrCLOxFH2615.1
Meeting ID: 160 402 1014
Passcode: 555132

Join by Telephone
Dial:
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
Meeting ID: 160 402 1014
International numbers

5 each month to keep

You may request up to 5 titles per month with the updated Braille on Demand program from NLS, these are books you can keep!
The form to request a braille-on-demand book can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NLSbrailleondemand.
Patrons may complete the form themselves or contact their network library for assistance. They may also contact NLS Reference at nlsref@loc.gov for assistance in completing the form.

Longer Book Descriptions

NLS is now using publisher-provided book descriptions for new titles added to the collection in Braille Book Review, Talking Book Topics, and on BARD and in the catalog.
These publisher descriptions are longer and present richer, more detailed book descriptions to NLS patrons that is routinely used by other libraries and book providers. These descriptions provide more insight into book topics and will make it easier for patrons to identify and search titles of interest.

New Improved NLS Catalog

Finding your next great read is easier than ever with the new NLS Catalog search features! NLS Catalog boasts a new, clean design and advanced search functionality, direct links to BARD from catalog listings for quick downloads, and for the first time, patrons can directly request books to add to our collection! Patrons will also find links to contact a librarian and other resources to get the most out of NLS. Start exploring the catalog here: https://nlscatalog.loc.gov.

Get NLS News in your Inbox!

Want to get the latest news and updates from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled? NLS’s Patron Engagement Section now hosts an announce-only listserv that will include announcements about NLS programs, services, and products that might be of interest to patrons. New announcements will be posted to the list few times a week. If you are interested in signing up for this listserv, please send your name and email address to the Patron Engagement Section at NLSPES@loc.gov. You will be able to unsubscribe yourself from the list at any time. So email NLSPES@loc.gov now!

Getting Help Downloading

Technology is wonderful when it works. However, when something goes wrong, sometimes it can seem as though it takes forever to get the right help.

Email NLSDownload@loc.gov for immediate help straight from the experts. Be sure to include the email address you use for BARD/BARD Express and specific details about what device you are using, and what error messages you are getting. You cannot give too much information!