Library of Congress NLS visits Utah to preview BARD upgrades, tactile graphics and new devices

Jason Bratton, director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled at the Library of Congress, visited the Utah State Library’s Multistate Center to review how the state supports audio and braille services and to preview national plans to expand digital access.

Bratton told hosts that the Utah facility supports talking‑book machines, braille materials, volunteer repair and a studio for producing audio books. “We have braille materials… talking book machines and cartridges,” he said, noting the center’s regional role serving additional states. He described the partnership as a nearly century‑old public service rooted in the Pratt–Smoot Act, which enabled accessible publishing for people who are blind or print disabled.

The visit also highlighted technology and platform changes coming from NLS. Bratton described BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) as the primary digital distribution platform for NLS content, available via web, BARD Express, Android and iOS, and capable of supporting refreshable braille displays through Bluetooth. “BARD… is our platform that really allows you to access the collection,” he said.

Bratton previewed a DA2 talking‑book player that will combine legacy cartridge access with Wi‑Fi download capability so users with connectivity can obtain titles directly while offline users will continue to receive cartridges through the U.S. Postal Service. “Our DA2… will have not only the cartridge access people are used to, it will also have Wi‑Fi capability,” he said.

NLS is also testing voice‑assistant access. Bratton said an Alexa skill, tested in beta with a national group, could let smart‑speaker users connect to BARD voice navigation. He described the trial as data gathering to determine whether to add smart‑speaker support to the portfolio.

Bratton said tactile graphics — three‑dimensional or embossed representations of images and maps — are an important next step to help people with vision impairment experience images by touch. He framed tactile graphics as complementary to braille and audio, giving users spatial and texture information that images alone do not convey.

On user onboarding, Bratton outlined plans for a streamlined online application that would act as a single front door for NLS while routing applicants to state programs and supports; he said the goal is to roll out the digital application the following year. Until then, paper methods and cartridge delivery via postal service will remain available.

Why it matters: Utah’s Multistate Center both produces materials and distributes accessible formats for multiple states. Upgrades to devices, the BARD platform and support for tactile graphics could change how quickly and easily people who are blind or print disabled access reading materials.

What’s next: Bratton said NLS hopes to continue testing and to deploy the DA2 player, expand BARD features and refine the online application. The Utah host invited Bratton to return for future episodes to discuss additional topics, including experiences producing content in institutional settings.