NLS Programs

List of programs offered by The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). Information on all NLS Programs can be found on the NLS Patron and Services Page

Patron Corner

Presented the second Monday of the third month of the quarter at 7:00 pm Eastern Time (5:00 pm Mountain Time), shares specific information of interest to patrons regarding an announced topic. More information, along with recordings of previous events, is available on the NLS website: NLS Patron Corner page

  • Next session will be in March 2025

Many Faces of BARD

This program will occur on the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm Eastern Time (5:00 pm Mountain Time). It will last for one hour and will cover one aspect of BARD (the Braille and Audio Reading Download) usage. Each program will start with a brief presentation. The remainder of the time will be spent answering questions about the presentation or other questions related to BARD usage. NLS will announce the topic for the next presentation at the end of each program. More information, along with recordings of previous programs, is available on the NLS website: NLS Many Faces of BARD Page

  • CANCELLED - January 9, 2025: Open Forum: An Hour of Answers to Your Questions from the Experts.

  • February 13, 2025: Open Forum: An Hour of Answers to Your Questions from the Experts. The program will begin at 7:00 pm Eastern Time (5:00 pm Mountain Time) and last for one hour. This program will be recorded. A link will be available on the NLS Many Faces of BARD Page

Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker

This program is part of a limited series that will be provided as we roll out this new way to access and play talking books available through BARD. The program will begin at 7:00 pm Eastern Time (5:00 pm Mountain Time) and run for one hour. Each program will start with a brief demonstration with the remainder of the time spent answering questions about the My Talking Book Skill on the smart speaker. More information, along with recordings of previous programs, is available on the NLS website: NLS Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker Page

  • January 16, 2025: Searching for Books with the Smart Speaker. The program will begin at 7:00 pm Eastern Time (5:00 pm Mountain Time) and run for one hour. This program will be recorded. A link will be available on the: NLS Smart Speaking to the Smart Speaker Page

That All May eRead

This program will occur on the last Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm Eastern Time (5:00 pm Mountain Time). It will last for one hour and will focus on using the NLS Braille eReaders. Each program will start with a brief demonstration of a feature or use case. The remainder of the time will be spent answering patrons questions. NLS will announce the topic for the next presentation at the end of each program. More information, along with recordings of previous programs, is available on the NLS website: NLS That All May eRead Page

  • Next program in January

Braille-on-Demand

As part of its braille modernization initiative, NLS launched the Braille-on-Demand pilot. This project allows active NLS patrons to request and receive up to five hard-copy braille title per month, which they can retain for their personal use.

Braille titles will be limited to books that are currently available on BARD, the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download service. Requests are limited to one book per patron per month. Only complete titles will be distributed. Requests for partial titles (for example, volume one of a three-volume book) will result in receiving the entire book.

The form to request a braille-on-demand book can be found linked from https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NLSbrailleondemand. Patrons may complete the form themselves or contact CTBL for assistance.