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About BARD (Braille & Audio Reading Download)

BARD is a free website where you can download audio and electronic braille books, magazines, and more!

  • Absolutely free
  • No limit on number of downloads
  • Downloads do not need to be returned
  • It's OK to have a friend or family member help you download
  • Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • You can still get books by mail

1. Access to a computer with high-speed internet connection and a valid email address.

2. You cannot listen to audio downloads directly from your computer. To listen to audio downloads you need

a. Library's loaned Digital Book Machine – OR – NLS-compatible Third Party Player
b. Standard USB flash (thumb) drive – OR – Blank book cartridge and cable

3. To use braille downloads you need

a. Braille display, braille-aware notetaker, or braille embosser (see Third Party Player)

1. To download books, you must first Sign-Up for BARD

2. Once you have submitted your completed application, you will receive an email with further instructions within the next few business days.

BARD Express is designed to assist users who have personal computers which run on Windows operating systems (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10) to download books. The goal of the application is to simplify logging in, searching, browsing, downloading, and transferring audio reading material from the BARD website to a cartridge or USB drive. The BARD Express application and more information about it is now available on your BARD Main Page under Additional Links, then BARD Express.

NLS has also produced a set of tutorial videos, called the BARD Express How-To Series which are linked from the Frequently Asked Questions pages found in the BARD Express Documentation link. (BARD Express is *NOT* a replacement for the BARD Mobile app which is meant for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.)

*Some tutorials have been compiled by other libraries and include customized instructions or references. These tutorials are meant to be general BARD guides and not step-by-step instructions for our library.