BARD Mobile

I am 71 years old and have been a library patron since I was about age 7. I have used this app for many years. I have had to change my password unnecessarily a number of times. I am currently trying to reset my password from my iPhone. I don’t really want to do this, but the website will not let me login with different devices. I am repeatedly told that my ticket is incomplete even though I enter all the information and follow all the instructions. I have repeatedly requested instructions for resetting my password be sent and I have followed the instructions I’ve gotten only to hit a brick wall. For existing patrons, this is absolutely ridiculous. I know the website has to be secure and protected from people who are in eligible to use it, but I shouldn’t be experiencing this much difficulty when I have followed all the steps necessary. Otherwise, the app is OK although some other things need to be fixed as well. I should also be able to login without going to a website browser. I went to Safari, logged in there, and downloaded a book that I wanted but was unable to listen to it without re-downloading the app. When I re-downloaded the app, I thought maybe the problem would be fixed and I still can’t listen to the book that I downloaded from the web browser. totally ridiculous.

This app is the best app for downloading books. This app is underrated its really not bad like some people think it is. I highly recommend this app

For your hard work

Hoping that my rating of two will draw some attention to a longstanding bug related to the Stop function when using a wireless headset. I just submitted a more extensive bug report to the NLS group. Suffice it to say, I want to keep my iPhone in my pocket while I listen to the app on my Trekz Titanium or any wireless headset, and cook, clean, walk, hike etc. Unfortunately I cannot engage the Stop function from my headset. I am forced to physically issue VoiceOver commands on the iPhone which means I need to remove from my pocket, which often includes cleaning and/or drying my hands. In my testing, this problem does not occur if the playback speed is at or less than 100%, but as a longtime audio listener (and NLS fan), normal playback feels extremely slow. I would gladly bump my rating straight to a five if this very inconvenient bug should be corrected. I absolutely love the Bard Mobile app but I have resorted to preferring other audio book apps like Audible when titles are available.

I love listening to audiobooks🩷. It’s also good to give my eyes a rest. I love that there are humans reading the book in stead of robots. Robots don’t give you the same vibe compaired to a human reading it. A human reader brings in emotion and changes there voice based on character. The only I have to say to improve this app is give genres. Some people don’t know what they want to read. But they do know or have a understanding on what genres they like. Categorize book suggestions by genre. It’ll make it 100% easier looking for a book to read. I know it will for me!!! I’ve used this app more than 3 years!

I am also having the issue where it will not log me in and keeps telling me my account is suspended

I am constantly having problems with this app. I am told I have been suspended for too many login attempts, but I am not logging in, merely listening to books. I could not recommend this app if it were the last book listening app on the planet. Highly dissatisfied!

Long time user of the mobile app. Within the last week, I have not been able to log into my account. I tried to change my password using the link sent to my email. I got the same prompt telling me my account has been deactivated and to contact my local library. after contacting my local talking book library, they informed me that I was still a current member and that there was an issue with the app. there is no resolution that has been given to me or even a notice that there was an issue to begin with. very frustrating.

Bard mobile was at one time a great app for visually handicapped people. Now after the last few updates, nothing works with voice over on apple. Some things are impossible to click on, while other things have moved entirely. I’m no longer able to navigate and use this app on my own and now have to rely and depend on a seeing person to do it for me. At this point I might as well use any app since it no longer makes any difference for me.

I spend many hours every week in this app. On each screen: Good placement of controls for both swiping and touch. I've used BARD Mobile with VoiceOver for 10 years. I start books in other readers, but I spend so much time in BARD that I tend to use the other reader apps primarily to pinpoint particular phrases in text and add notes. I hardly ever use braille in BARD, partly because I use other apps for braille, but I just now discovered that my search format defaults to select audio, even though Show me Both audio and braille is selected in settings. I'll make more of an effort to search for all formats. I so very much appreciate BARD's stability; a new design is the last thing we want. I appreciate that updates generally seem either necessary or helpful. I miss the old search interface, so sometimes I go to the website and add titles to my wish list. The Recents list is very well done. I would love to have other lists that I could name/personalize (such as wind down, late night, and bookmarked (listing books I've bookmarked)). I'm getting used to using app shortcuts on the home screen, so maybe various lists (such as recents and customized) could be set as BARD shortcuts. Occasionally, there's a BARD system message, especially Re: occasional brief outages. I've always felt that these messages were very respectful and necessary. 2 confusing things: The message always repeats itself, so I have to hit ok twice, but I've never cared enough to mention it until now. Also, I'd like an easy way to find and reread the alert. The few times I've needed customer service, they were very responsive and on point. Thank you, BARD, for being such a wonderful part of my life!