NLS Operations Alert
No. 09-19
DATE : April 17, 2009
TO : Network Libraries
FROM : Neil Bernstein, Research and Development Officer
Subject : Changes to NLS download service
The current phase of the NLS downloadable audiobooks and magazines service will end
April 28, 2009. It will be replaced by the permanent web site for Braille and Audio Reading
Download (BARD), which you will be able to access at a new web site,
https://nlsbard.loc.gov, beginning Thursday, April 30, 2009.
The official opening of BARD to all eligible readers will be announced by NLS before the
end of the year. For network libraries, this web site change does not affect the current
pattern of BARD registration and patron service.
Users who know their passwords will be able to log on to the new site; users who rely on
their browsers to remember their passwords will need new ones (follow instructions in
Section II). All user accounts will be migrated to the new system, so patrons do not need to
reapply. All materials previously downloaded will remain usable, so patrons will not need to
redownload their reading material.
This message describes what's new about BARD and explains what steps must be taken
to access the new site. Please read the entire message carefully.
Section I. What's new about BARD:
1. Unlimited downloading. The BARD service will no longer limit the number of books and
magazines that you may download. Any account holder may download any item at
any time. During heavy demand, however, NLS may limit the number of simulta
neous downloads for each account.
2. New logon page. The site logon will now use a form rather than a dialog box. It is
the same type of logon found on most Internet pages and should be immediately
familiar to users of other sites. This is an important note for screen-reader users.
3. New search functionality. BARD searches will yield more effective results. The
use of multiple search terms will return only results containing all of the terms.
4. New "Most Popular Books" list. By selecting the "Most Popular Books" link from
the home page, users may access a list of the top twenty most downloaded books
on the BARD service in the last ninety days. Fiction and nonfiction titles will be
listed separately.
5. Redesigned magazine section. The "Recently Added Magazines" page will now
display links to only the most recent issue of each magazine. Magazines older
than one year may be accessed from each title's magazine archive. Links to the
archive are at the bottom of each magazine's page.
Section II. Take the following steps to ensure access to the new site:
1. Patrons must know their logon IDs and passwords to log on to the new site. The
logon ID is the patron's e-mail address.
2. Patrons who know their logon IDs and passwords will not need to do anything. They
may simply access the new site, https://nlsbard.loc.gov, starting Thursday, April 30.
3. Patrons who have forgotten their passwords must obtain a new one to be able to log
on to the new site.
4. Patrons who do not know their passwords but are able to automatically log on to the
pilot site because their browsers know their passwords must choose a new pass
word. Since the new site has a different address from the pilot site, patrons cannot
rely on their web browsers to automatically log on to BARD.
To request a new password, patrons should follow these steps:
a. Select the link "Update My Settings" from the site home page.
b. From the settings page, select the first link, "Change Your Password."
c. Enter the new password twice, and then select the "Change Password" button.
d. Remember this new password to access BARD.
5. Patrons who cannot log on to the site because they do not know their passwords may
have a new one sent to them. They should follow these steps:
a. Access the password recovery page at https://www.nlstalkingbooks.org/cgi-
bin/public/dtbscripts_v2/recoverpw.cgi.
b. Enter the e-mail address and then select the "Send Me a New Password" button. A
new temporary password will be generated and sent to the patron's e-mail address.
c. Retrieve the password, log on to the site, and choose a new password.
d. Remember this new password to access BARD.
6. If for some reason patrons are not able to use any of these options, they may send a
request for a new password to [log in to unmask] Because of the anticipated
large number of requests, they should expect the new password within two business
days.
The last day of availability of the pilot site will be Tuesday, April 28. The service will not be available
at all on Wednesday, April 29, to allow user accounts to be migrated to the new site, which will
be available on Thursday, April 30.
NLS appreciates the efforts of all who have participated in the pilot test. Your feedback has allowed
us to continuously improve the site and to plan future expansions, such as the inclusion of
braille books. Though the pilot phase is ending, we remain open to your feedback about the
BARD service. Please send your comments to [log in to unmask] Send questions or
requests about the book and magazine collection to your library.
For more information contact:
Neil Bernstein
Research and Development Officer
[log in to unmask]
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