Spanish is a high priority international language. BARD has a Spanish language collection, and its interface is available in Spanish on the web version and also both iOS and Android BARD apps.
There are three main sources for Spanish audiobooks:
NLS narrates print or ebooks,
NLS converts Spanish commercial audiobooks to accessible audiobooks, and
NLS imports accessible audiobooks in Spanish from other countries via the Marrakesh Treaty. The vast majority of these come from Spain.
NLS collects both translations into Spanish and original-Spanish language books from as many Spanish-speaking countries as possible.
BARD
On BARD, there are currently 6,499 audiobooks and 62 braille books in Spanish (including music titles). The Spanish collection has increased by 150% over the past 3 and a half years.
Finding Spanish Language Books in BARD
You can find these Spanish language titles by changing your preferred language or filtering search results by selecting your preferred language.
BARD Website
Go to Account Settings.
Choose the fourth item down “Select this link to change your language preferences.”
Check the checkbox next to Spanish.
Click on the “update” button.
BARD Express
Go to Search BARD.
Select the “Filter” button.
Select the checkbox next to Spanish Language.
Select the “Ok” button at bottom of the screen.
BARD app for iOS
Go to Settings Tab.
Go to User Account Settings.
The fifth item down is “Language Preferences.”
Choose Spanish.
BARD App for Android
In the app’s Settings, go to User Account Settings and then Language Preferences.
Select up to four languages.
When searching for books in the app, you will have up to four languages based on your settings. Default languages are English and Spanish if no changes are made.
Join the National Library Service (NLS) for the Many Faces of BARD program on Thursday, November 14, at 6:00 p.m. central time. The topic will be using NLS BARD on the HIMS SensePlayer.
BARD stands for Braille and Audio Reading Download service and is a registered trademark for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
Registration is not required. The session is scheduled for one hour with time for questions. Click on the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/29zv8pxe.
Join the National Library Service (NLS) on Tuesday, October 29, at 6:00 p.m. central time for the next session of the online series That All May eRead. This session will cover how to access online services using the Zoomax and Humanware braille ereaders.
One of the most popular requests we get at the Talking Book Program are from patrons who want to learn a language. We have several different self-instruction programs in our collection to help you dive right in.
Behind the Wheel: Behind the Wheel provides a flexible, solid, and universal foundation in speaking, understanding, and creatively expressing yourself in your chosen language. The program features an English-speaking instructor to guide you through the lessons and native speakers to aid with your pronunciation. Includes supplementary materials in Braille to reinforce and enhance the audio experience.
Languages in the TBP collection: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish.
Berlitz Self Teacher: Braille language study guides designed for the student working alone. Stressing oral practice, the guides present each lesson as a conversational dialogue incorporating vocabulary and grammatical points. Each sentence is followed by a pronunciation guide and English translation. Questions follow each lesson, and, where appropriate, tips on customs are given.
Languages in the TBP collection: English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
Drive Time: is a simplified program to learn the basics of vocabulary, grammar, conversation, and culture for a given language. The experts at Living Language have created a course that includes four hours of language lessons that you can use anywhere and anytime. It includes conversational lessons so you can practice listening and speaking a language naturally. The courses also have plenty of pronunciation exercises, simple explanations, examples, and real conversational practice.
Languages in the TBP collection: French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. We also have intermediate English.
eTicket Audio Phrasebooks: Produced by Living Language, these audio phrasebooks contain simple and practical phrases, containing all the essentials for a trip.
Languages in TBP collection: Spanish and English for Spanish speakers.
Pimsleur®: is a way to learn a language through a program of short lessons using methods derived from research on memory and learning. The emphasis is on pronunciation and comprehension, and on learning to speak the language. Features native speakers.
Languages in the TBP collection: Albanian, Armenian (Eastern and Western), Czech, Dutch, French, Greek (modern), Haitian Creole, Hebrew (modern), Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Spanish (Latin American), Swedish, and Thai.
English for Arabic, Cantonese Chinese, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish Speakers
Further Study
Once you learn the basics, you may want to find materials to read in your language of choice. BARD is here to help!
BARD: Change your preferred language
Filter search results by selecting your preferred language.
BARD website
1. BARD Main Page – Account Settings – 4th item down “Select this link to change your language preferences.”
2. Check the checkbox next to the language you are learning.
3. Hit the “update” button.
BARD Express
1. Go to Search BARD
2. Select the “Filter” button.
3. Select the checkbox next to one of the following languages: Arabic China French Language Books, Fiction German Language Books Italian Language Portuguese Language Titles Spanish Language
4. Select the “Ok” button at bottom of the screen. Now all your search results will be in your chosen language.
BARD app for iOS and Android
1. Go to Settings Tab
2. Go to User Account Settings
3. Select “Language Preferences”
4. Tap the language you are learning. It will add books written in that language to your search results.
So, take this opportunity to learn a new language and let BARD help ease the way!
Join the National Library Service (NLS) on Tuesday, July 30, at 6:00 p.m. (Central) for the first session of a new monthly program called That All May eRead, which will focus on using the NLS braille e-readers.
Each session will include a brief demonstration of a feature or use case, with time for questions about both the Zoomax and Humanware Braille eReaders.
Join the National Library Service (NLS) for the Many Faces of BARD program on Thursday, July 11, at 6:00 p.m. (Central) which will be an open forum for the tech support team to respond to questions.
BARD stands for Braille and Audio Reading Download service and is a registered trademark for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
Registration is not required. The session is scheduled for one hour with time for questions. Click on the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/vfhkx3b3.
Join the National Library Service (NLS) for the Many Faces of BARD program on Thursday, May 9, at 6:00 p.m. (Central) as NLS will provide information on Siri shortcuts for BARD.
BARD stands for Braille and Audio Reading Download service and is a registered trademark for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
Registration is not required. The session is scheduled for one hour with time for questions. Click on the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/5ez6btsm.
Join the National Library Service (NLS) for the Many Faces of BARD program on Thursday, April 11, at 6:00 p.m. (Central). NLS will provide an introduction and demonstration of the new BARD 2.0.
BARD stands for Braille and Audio Reading Download service and is a registered trademark for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
Registration is not required. The session is scheduled for one hour with time for questions. Click on the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/bdcftz98
The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) is releasing BARD Mobile iOS version 2.2.2 this week, introducing enhanced features and improvements.
BARD Mobile enables NLS patrons to download and listen to audiobooks and magazines directly from their iOS devices. Registered Texas Talking Book patrons will need a BARD account and a device running iOS versions 14 through 17 to use this updated version of the app.
Among the highlights:
Siri shortcuts (voice user interface):
The app can now be operated by voice commands for playback and navigation, including stopping and resuming playback, fast-forward and rewind by various intervals, and setting a sleep timer or a bookmark. Users can add Siri shortcuts in the app’s settings.
International language search:
Set up to four languages in the app’s settings and then filter search results by selecting a preferred language.
Accessibility improvements for visually impaired users:
We have boosted color contrast between selected and unselected search categories. This update enhances visibility with Smart Invert, Classic Invert, and Dark Mode on.
Multiword search for Search/Search music
Bug fixes, including:
Garbled credentials error fixed
Switch from tone to speed is fixed on iOS 17
Get Books and Bookshelf now return only titles matching the type selected in the Show Me setting, i.e. Audio Only / Braille Only / Both Audio and Braille
The app supports iOS versions 14 through 17.
This is a phased release, and the version will be available to all users by February 29.
