Announcements and Notices

Many Faces of BARD-April

The topic for the Thursday, April 10, 2025, Many Faces of BARD program will be New Features in BARD Express, such as enhanced storage and speed settings. The program will begin with a presentation and demonstration. After the presentation, we will entertain 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/1616894181?pwd=Kq6uKSpjbvWgjEd6a7RhSfbsoVTSJh.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,,1616894181# or +16469641167,,1616894181#  
Meeting URL https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1616894181?pwd=Kq6uKSpjbvWgjEd6a7RhSfbsoVTSJh.1  

Meeting ID:  161 689 4181
Passcode: 912879
Join by Telephone
Dial:
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
Meeting ID:  161 689 4181
International numbers

NLS Music Notes: Webinar featuring pianist Hwaen Ch’uqi

Join us for our next NLS Music Notes webinar on Tuesday, March 25, at 7:00 p.m. eastern time via Zoom.

For this NLS Music Notes webinar, we will be joined by pianist, composer, and NLS Music Section patron Hwaen Ch’uqi. We will discuss Mr. Ch’uqi’s journey to becoming a professional musician, his use of braille music, and his own compositions and inspiration.

About Hwaen Ch’uqi: An Inca Indian and a native of Perú, pianist Hwaen Ch’uqi is a world-renowned soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. He has performed throughout the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Russia, Taiwan, Japan, and Perú at such venues as Seiji Ozawa Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, and Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia. He is on the roster of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chamber Music Society and is co-founder of Duo Q’inti with pianist Emi Okumura and Duo Perussia with violinist Nadya Meykson.

Mr. Ch’uqi holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Natalya Antonova. He quickly distinguished himself as one of the rare pianists to be invited three times as a fellow to the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center; there, he studied with such luminaries as Gilbert Kalish and Leon Fleisher. He was a semifinalist at the Second Sviatoslav Richter International Piano Competition in Moscow and was awarded the Special Prize.

You can read more about Hwaen Ch’uqi at https://incawarrior.com

This NLS Music Notes webinar can be joined by going to https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1611616683?pwd=RSQlCB89b2HzEiDBib3lhE2vw7l2lI.1

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.

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 link and dial-in information are below.

Link to Zoom meeting on March 25, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. eastern time:
Meeting URL:          https://loc.zoomgov.com/j/1611616683?pwd=RSQlCB89b2HzEiDBib3lhE2vw7l2lI.1
Meeting ID:   161 161 6683
Passcode:     417943

Join by Telephone
For higher quality, dial a number based on your current location.
Dial:   +1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)
+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)
+1 551 285 1373 US (New Jersey)
+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID:   161 161 6683

NLS: Braille on Demand: Get 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!