Here, we report the development of two RNA-seq library preparation protocols that increase the throughput and decrease the cost of converting RNA to cDNA libraries compatible for sequencing on high-throughput platforms. BaM-seq allows for early barcoding of samples such that many biological samples can be processed simultaneously. TBaM-seq allows for enrichment of target RNAs to decrease the required sequencing depth. Both methods are able to accurately measure gene expression changes with high technical reproducibility and agreement with gold standard, lower throughput approaches. Overall design: Libraries prepared with BaM-seq protocol.