BARD Mobile for PC - Free Download: Windows 10/11 Edition

★ ★ ★ BARD Overview

What is BARD? The BARD Mobile app allows eligible users who have enrolled in the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) at the Library of Congress to access tens of thousands of books, magazines, and music instruction and scores in audio and electronic braille formats. The app is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Software Features and Description

1. NLS provides free audio and braille reading materials to residents of the United States and American citizens living abroad who cannot read standard print.

2. Access tens of thousands of books—from current best sellers to much-loved classics, popular magazines, and music instruction and scores in audio and electronic braille formats, with new selections added daily.

3. This app allows access for eligible users who have enrolled in the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) at the Library of Congress.

4. If you are already registered for NLS service, contact your cooperating NLS library to request your BARD account.

5. To read braille materials, you will need to connect a refreshable braille display to your device using Bluetooth.

6. If you are blind or have temporary or permanent low vision or a disability that prevents you from reading or holding the printed page, you may be eligible for this program.

7. Audio materials downloaded from BARD can be played directly on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

8. For more information on eligibility, visit or contact your cooperating network library.

9. To enroll call 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323) and follow the prompts for your state.

10. BARD Mobile is a service of NLS.

11. Liked BARD? here are 5 Book apps like Bookmobile Audiobook Player; 대구전자도서관 for mobile; See: 서울시교육청 전자도서관 for mobile; la Feltrinelli Mobile; 책 읽는 도시 인천 for mobile;

Download and install BARD Mobile on your computer

GET Compatible PC App

App	Download	Rating	Maker
BARD	Get App ↲	116 3.64	Library of Congress

Or follow the guide below to use on PC:

Select Windows version:

Windows 10
Windows 11

Install BARD Mobile app on your Windows in 4 steps below:

Download an Android emulator for PC:
Get either Bluestacks or the Nox App >> . We recommend Bluestacks because you can easily find solutions online if you run into problems while using it. Download Bluestacks PC software Here >> .

Install the emulator:
On your computer, goto the Downloads folder » click to install Bluestacks.exe or Nox.exe » Accept the License Agreements » Follow the on-screen prompts to complete installation.

Using BARD on PC [Windows 10/ 11]:

Open the Emulator app you installed » goto its search bar and search "BARD"
The search will reveal the BARD Mobile app icon. Open, then click "Install".
Once BARD is downloaded inside the emulator, locate/click the "All apps" icon to access a page containing all your installed applications including BARD.
Now enjoy BARD on PC.

Download a Compatible APK for PC

Download	Developer	Rating	Current version
Get APK for PC →	Library of Congress	3.64	2.2.2

Get BARD on Apple macOS

Download	Developer	Reviews	Rating
Get Free on Mac	Library of Congress	116	3.64

Download on Android: Download Android

BARD Mobile functions

- Access to tens of thousands of books, magazines, and music instruction and scores in audio and electronic braille formats

- New selections added daily

- Eligibility for the app requires enrollment in the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) at the Library of Congress

- Audio materials can be played directly on the device

- Braille materials require a refreshable braille display connected to the device via Bluetooth

- Free service provided to residents of the United States and American citizens living abroad who cannot read standard print due to blindness, temporary or permanent low vision, or a disability that prevents them from reading or holding the printed page.

✔ Pros:

- The BARD service provides much-needed support for those with visual issues.

- The app has voiceover support.

- The app allows users to search for books by title, author, and latest additions.

- The app provides access to a large library of books.

☹ Cons:

- The app's functionality is slow and cumbersome.

- The search process is clunkier than necessary.

- The app frequently fails to decode and crashes.

- The dictate function often misspells words.

- The BARD website is cluttered and difficult to navigate with VoiceOver.

Top Pcmac Reviews

Latest version of this app seems to be somewhat broken

By Club bullet (Pcmac user)

Tried to use this app today for the first time in quite a while. Was attempting to do a search for a book title, however when I pressed the search button the only thing that came up was something that said empty list, the title of the book I was looking for did not appear. Nor did this work when I tried the other two options select author and select latest. I was unable to do a search under the main search field either, where it says title and author search. Something has happened to this app. Not sure what. The only way to find a book you want us to go into the recently added section of the app and scroll through everything that is there. This text way too much time. Checked with the library to make sure that the title and author of the book I was searching for was in their inventory and they confirmed that it was. So, apparently, someone has broken this part of the app that allows you to search. I hope in the next version this problem gets repaired. This was a very good app and very convenient for searching quickly through library of written material.
Could be a lot better

By Lisa cushman (Pcmac user)

It is possible to use this app with voiceover. However, I frequently find that if I leave the app open for a while that when I come back to the app after doing something else I get the message that it failed to decode. I must then close the app and reopen it. If I have not set a bookmark, I get moved around somewhere in the book. I am also found a book that at a certain position, will crash the app and requires me to re-open it. Though less important, the search process is clunkier than necessary. It would be nice if the search edit field was close to the beginning of the get books tab. Finally, it would be nice if the wish list was optional, and you could download a book right away directly. I try to give an app developer feedback before writing a bad review. However, there is no feedback option in the app, and the Feedback option in the app support page how to captcha that I could not solve even after multiple tries.
Appreciated, but could you some improvements.

By BasenjiBuddy (Pcmac user)

The this app service is a wonderful thing, and provides much-needed support for those of us with visual issues. There are so many ways but this app could be made better, smoother, and easier (especially for those of us who can’t see well, or not at all.) For an app in the genre, voiceover support is a must, and it would be nice if someone took the time to get feedback from users who require it. Much of the functionality is slow and cumbersome and does not need to be. Perhaps the Library of Congress would be willing to gather up some volunteers to test the app and make it better. It’s such a great service, it deserves a better app.
Worst search engine ever!

By Sneebyjane (Pcmac user)

When using dictate function it almost never spells words correctly. Ex: for Michael it substituted “Michale” And for Tower it substituted “Tower’”. The pages on the this app website is way too cluttered for a blind person and VoiceOver to read through... it lists too many details and if what you want is at the bottom of the page Voice Over has to read everything above before you get there. If you do a general search it lists all the results with titles then authors then etc.... so it takes forever to find what you want. Then if you search by author you can only search by first letter of last name and not by name. Again, too much info to sift through. Suggestions:: There should be options to do refined searches such as being able to search by full author’s name. The Bookshare app is very compatible with VoiceOver and is easy to find out if they have a book you need /want. Would be great if this app was set up like Bookshare as far as searching for books. The website seems like a sighted person put it together. If that is true please have a blind person who is familiar with technology to help redesign it. Fir a sighted person it wouldn’t be so hard to sort through.