Text Size:   A+ A- A   •   Text Only
Find     
Talking Book and Braille Services

Braille

General Information

Talking Book and Braille Services provides Braille books to users a couple of different ways. Embossed Braille books are available via the State Library in Utah. We call this service Utah Braille. Electronic Braille books can be downloaded using the BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) service and transferred onto a Braille-aware device, Braille display, or printed using a Braille embosser.​
Back to Top

Utah Braille

Our contract with the Utah State Library enables us to create and manage accounts for our users in Oregon who would like to read physical copies of embossed Braille books.  Accounts are created at no cost to our users (we cover the cost using our donation funds).  Utah Braille account holders can contact us with requests for books, which we then communicate to the Utah State Library.  In order to be good stewards of our resources, we do ask that each Utah Braille user borrow at least a few books a year.  There is also a general account for users who read Braille infrequently (once or twice a year).  If a book is available, it usually arrives in about a week; otherwise, we add you to the waiting list.  The same 6-week loan period that applies to all of our audio books also applies to Utah Braille books.
 

If you are interested in signing up for a Utah Braille account, please contact us at 800-452-0292 or tbabs.info@state.or.us.  You must be a registered Talking Book and Braille Services user before you can sign up for Utah Braille.

Back to Top

BARD

BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) is a free online service where users can download electronic copies of Braille books and magazines (along with audio books as well).  These books are in contracted Braille ASCII format.  Each file represents one volume of a Braille book or magazine.  Electronic Braille books can be downloaded for reading off-line or for embossing.  Reading electronic Braille files requires a Braille display, Braille-aware note taker, or Braille embosser.  In addition, electronic Braille files may be listened to with a player that has text-to-speech capabilities such as a Victor Reader Stream.
 
With BARD books, users do not have to worry about due dates, download limits, or waiting lists.  There are no due dates for Braille books and magazines downloaded from BARD.  Users can keep BARD downloads for as long as they would like.  There are also no limits to the number of items users can download from BARD.  With enough digital storage space, users can download the entire BARD library.  Plus, all BARD books and magazines are available for immediate download 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no waiting list.  It really is a win, win, win, and it’s all FREE!
 
If you are interested in signing up for BARD, fill out the online application by clicking this link.  You must be a registered Talking Book and Braille Services user before you can sign up for BARD.  For more information about BARD, including download instructions, FAQs, and user requirements, click here.
Back to Top