BARD and BARD Mobile Updates

The BARD website and BARD Mobile app for iOS, Android, and Fire are often updated by the NLS. Below lists recent updates to BARD online service and version releases of BARD Mobile. For help with BARD or BARD Mobile or the NLS talking-book player, visit the NLS Technical Help with BARD Equipment page. NLS often modifies the software on the DTBM software (the "Digital Talking Book Machine" that plays cartridges) to correct faults, improve usability, or add additional features. For more information on firmware updates, visit the NLS DTBM Firmware Update page.

BARD Website Update

February 2024

  • NLS patrons will be allowed to download up to 250 books and magazine issues from BARD in any rolling 30-day period. This includes both audio and braille titles, regardless of platform or combination. The ceiling is calculated by adding up the number of “unique titles” downloaded; the same title on additional devices in that same 30-day would count as one "unique title" download.

April 2022

  • BARD interface is now also available in French. Patrons who would prefer to use BARD in French or Spanish can do so by selecting their language of choice from the Language Interface Settings drop-down menu on the main Account Settings page.

BARD Mobile iOS Updates - App Store

Below is a listing of major recent updates to the Apple iOS BARD Mobile app. To read a complete history of all versions, please visit the BARD Mobile App on iOS App Store External.

2.2.2 – March 1, 2024

  • Added voice commands (Siri) for playback and navigation, including stopping and resuming playback, fast-forwarding and rewinding by various intervals, and setting a sleep timer or a bookmark; BARD users can now add Siri shortcuts in the app’s settings.
  • Enable up to four languages in the app's settings and then filter search results by selecting a preferred language.
  • Boosted color contrast between selected and unselected search categories, enhancing visibility with Smart Invert, Classic Invert, and Dark Mode on.
  • Improved Search functionality with multiword input for Search and Search music.

2.2.1 – June 13, 2023

  • In-app password reset functionality added to allow users to change their password without visiting the BARD website or asking their Network Library staff to reset the password for them.

2.2.0 – April 11, 2023

  • In-app Search Music collections added allowing patrons better searching capabilities within the app Search feature.
  • In-app Search Spanish and other language books added allowing patrons better searching capabilities within the app Search feature.
  • One-click for expanding book descriptions implemented so patrons can read the full book annotation in one screen.

2.1.0 – April 4, 2023

  • In-app Search Spanish and other language books added allowing patrons better searching capabilities within the app Search feature.
  • Bug fixes have been implemented to enhance the overall user experience.

2.0.0 – September 2022

  • Search inputs update made for more intuitive use of Author and Title. Author search supports First Name, Last Name format; Last Name, First Name; and Last Name only. Quotation marks are no longer required. For example, input “Mary Clark” (without quotations) to find all the Mary Higgins Clark titles.
  • Keyword search updated to support searching all indexed metadata and can help users looking for multiple criteria. For example, to find a Terri Pratchett book narrated by Nick DePinto, a user can simply input “dePinto Terri” (without quotations).
  • Search updated. After a user inputs a search, they can amend the search type, the inputted term itself, or the format (audio or braille), and sort results alphabetically by author, title, or latest publication date.
  • In-app search updated to now include NLS Music collection holdings, allowing users to access the variety of musical appreciation and biography books, scores, and music instructional titles.
  • In-app search updated. Users can switch between audio and braille searches. For example, input “learn guitar” (without quotation marks) with the search defaults to find audio instructional titles, then select the braille format and the search button again to find braille titles. Version 2.0 also includes enhancements to searching and sorting Bookshelf and Get Books listings.

BARD Mobile Android Updates - Google Play

Below is a listing of recent and major updates to the Android BARD Mobile app. To learn more about BARD Mobile on the Google Android platform, please visit the BARD Mobile App on the Google Play Store for Android External.

2.1 – February 2024

  • Fully supported in-app search function, including Music Collection search, for a more seamless experience.
  • The ability to switch the app to display text and audio in Spanish.
  • New international language search option that allows users to select up to four preferred languages and then filter search results by those preferences.

2.0 – June 14, 2023

  • Search inputs updated for more intuitive searches for Author and Title. For example, use Author search input “Mary Clark” (without quotations) to find all the Mary Higgins Clark titles.
  • Keyword search updated to support searching all indexed metadata and can help users looking for multiple criteria. For example, to find a Terri Pratchett book narrated by DePinto, input “dePinto Terri” (without quotations).

1.4.5 – September 1, 2022

  • Updated to allow users to have the ability to pause and resume downloads.
  • A new sort and search capability in Bookshelves and Get Book added to allow users to find titles more easily.
  • Addition of a More Info book details screen added to allow users access to more information about titles.

BARD Mobile Android Updates - Amazon Fire

Below is a listing of recent and major updates to the Android BARD Mobile app. To learn more about BARD Mobile on the Android platform, please visit the BARD Mobile App for Amazon Appstore for Android External.

2.0.0 - March 13, 2024

  • The app supports Fire OS versions 7 and 8.
  • WebView is replaced with a full in-app search, including search for music and titles in international languages.
  • Improved Spanish language app version support.
  • Refined deleting and moving selected titles.
  • Improved VoiceView experience, e.g., announcements for selected tabs/sorting options.
  • Improved issue tracking.
  • Bug fixes have been implemented to enhance the overall user experience.

1.4.6 - June 21, 2023

  • Usability and accessibility enhancements made to include improved color contrast and text sizing. Some issues related to the VoiceView have been resolved.
  • Bug fixes have been implemented to enhance the overall user experience.

1.4.5 - March 3, 2023

  • Accessibility improvements made.
  • Bug fixes have been implemented to enhance the overall user experience.

BARD Express Update

Below is a listing of recent and major updates to BARD Express, the software available only for PC computers. To learn more about BARD Express software, please visit the Welcome to BARD Express page. You can visit the BARD Express User Manual for more information about using BARD Express.

September 2024

  • While the BARD Express Player is in use, the narration will continue even if the user presses/clicks the play button while the audio is playing.
  • When jumping to the next navigation point in a book or magazine, the audio clip is no longer spoken a second time.
  • While pressing and holding the F or R keys to fast forward or rewind, each tone that is heard now correctly represents the next navigation point.
  • Maintains the navigation level of a book or magazine used when it was last set.
  • The Wish list sort types are now correctly labeled.
  • More accurately resumes playback where a book or magazine was previously stopped.
  • F2 key will reliably launch the player.

August 2024

  • BARD Express, version 3.0.0.7, includes the BARD Express Player, which allows patrons to choose an audio book or magazine from their BARD Express bookshelf and listen to it directly on their PC.
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