When the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille
Service (TBBS) recorded I Am a Man: Chief Standing Bear’s Journey
for Justice, it enabled Nebraskans with a print-related disability
to participate in the 2012 One Book One Nebraska statewide reading
program. Now Nebraska’s recording is available for direct download
to any qualifying U.S. resident through the Library of Congress’
Braille and Audio Reading Download service (BARD).
Written by Nebraska author Joe Starita and narrated by Alice Timm,
this book is the first Nebraska Library Commission studio production
to be offered through BARD online downloading. The book chronicles
what happened when Chief Standing Bear undertook a 600-mile trek to
return the body of his only son to their ancestral burial ground.
In recognition of Nebraska’s efforts, Library of Congress National
Library Service Director Karen Keninger offered her congratulations,
“Thank you for participating in the network-produced audiobooks on
BARD pilot. I am pleased to inform you that your book . . . is now
available on BARD. The posting of your book to BARD marks an
important milestone in our efforts to increase the quantity of
materials available on BARD.”
Launched in 2009 by the Library of Congress, BARD allows qualifying
U.S. residents to download encrypted files of audio books and
magazines, Braille, and music instruction materials. Materials can
be accessed through home computers or through a mobile app for use
with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch device. Currently 354 Nebraskans
participate in BARD—9% of TBBS borrowers—many more could be eligible
(see application instructions at
https://nlsbard.loc.gov/NLS/ApplicationInstructions.html). For
more information see
https://nlsbard.loc.gov/login/NE1A or contact
nlc.talkingbook@nebraska.gov, 402-471-4038, 800-742-7691.
As Nebraska’s state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission
is an advocate for the library and information needs of all
Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide
promotion, development, and coordination of library and information
services-“bringing together people and information.”
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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library
Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website,
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.