It'st a great thing I didn't burst anyone's bubble or confirm this is true. Too bad I don't have a scanner that works, well back to proofreading I go for now until I get a new one, yay! On 8/16/10, Scott Rains <scottr@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > At the risk of some literate Bookshare volunteer telling me that this sounds > like a rule from Alice in Wonderland, unfortunately the answer is "no." The > source for volunteer-submitted books must be a physical book. > > Scott Rains > Benetech Fellow, Bookshare Volunteer Department > ________________________________________ > From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Judy s. > [cherryjam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] > Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 12:59 PM > To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Clarification: Elegible books for bookshare > > Scott, how about this situation regarding a PDF? > > The author has published a printed version of a book. The author > then decides to make available, via the web, at no charge, a > complete PDF version of the book. The PDF is unreadable for the > blind, however, because each page of the book has been reproduced > in the PDF as an image of that page. The entire book is contained > within the PDF, including title page, blank pages - everything. > > Could a volunteer take that PDF and run it through OCRing > software and then submit the book? > > Judy s. > > Scott Rains wrote: >> This discussion helps explain why specificity is essential. Without access >> to the source a quote a great deal of time is consumed asking for >> clarification and, when that is not forthcoming, speculating out of >> context. >> >> The link to the relevant Chapter of the manual is below: >> >> http://tinyurl.com/26r4ht5 >> >> The relevant subsection is "c. Cannot be proprietary digital books" >> >> Here reference to "Digital books from other accessible book providers..." >> means the actual files from a publisher or other library such as from >> "such as an RFB&D digital book or a Library of Congress (NLS) Web-Braille >> book." These actual files cannot be submitted to be entered into the >> Bookshare library. "In other words, a book must be scanned by the >> submitter in order for it to be acceptable by Bookshare." >> >> This does not mean that a scanned copy of a physical version of the of a >> particular title cannot be added to the Bookshare library if that title >> shows up in another digital library. Some who have commented seem >> concerned that there might be some restriction on digital books being >> limited to only one library at a time. There is no such restriction. Think >> of a physical library as the example. Saint Louis public library can have >> the same titles as Little Rock but you would get an overdue notice if you >> tried to return one library's book in the other state! >> >> It may be helpful to further clarify in light of the separate running >> question on .PDF files. >> >> Yes, Jim and Betsy indicated in the letter below that Bookshare has need >> for volunteers to work with a backlog of publisher-supplied .PDF files. We >> are working with Collection Development to establish the policy, >> processes, and training materials for this future opportunity. >> >> Note that working in the future with .PDF files supplied by the publisher >> directly to Bookshare will not change the prohibition on volunteers >> attempting to submit commercially available e-books, digital books >> received from other providers such as an RFB&D digital book or a Library >> of Congress (NLS) Web-Braille book, or digital books provided to a student >> by their school which the school received in digital format from a >> publisher. >> >> Clearer nowr? >> >> Scott Rains >> Benetech Fellow, Bookshare Volunteer Department >> ________________________________________ >> >> Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 11:32 AM >> To: >> bks_announce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> Dear Bookshare Volunteers, >> >> We wanted to give you some thoughts on the critical importance of >> volunteers to Bookshare and its mission of getting everybody in the world >> with a print disability access to the books they need for education, >> employment and full inclusion in society. Although there’s been a lot of >> change in Bookshare, one thing that won’t change is our need for >> volunteers that share our dedication to that mission. >> >> Bookshare is the first library for people with print disabilities built >> primarily by people with print disabilities (as well as book-lovers of all >> types!). Our credo has been that if someone thought a book was worth >> scanning, we thought it was worth sharing. We knew that people with >> disabilities had few choices for accessible materials, and that scanning >> was a frustrating and slow process. >> >> The volunteers built Bookshare into a potent force for equality: we’ve >> revolutionized a field that was falling far short of meeting the goal of >> equality when it comes to access to the printed word. And you’ve worked >> with us to revolutionize the quality of our scanned books through >> meticulous proofreading. Thanks to partnerships with over 60 publishers >> (especially a handful of huge trade publishers), we have now been able to >> add thousands of new titles to Bookshare electronically, delighting our >> users. Scott and Pavi have shared with us, and our management team, some >> of the negative impacts this has had on the morale of some of our >> volunteers. This is especially true when a publisher-supplied version of >> a title displaces a volunteer-supplied version of that same title. >> >> We know some people feel like that’s not respectful of their volunteer >> time, or that somehow their volunteer time was wasted. I hope you realize >> that it has been the potent force of our volunteers creating Bookshare >> that has brought so many modern publishers to the table, since we can tell >> them that we already can scan all of their books, but providing it >> electronically will save us time and the cost of buying a book, chopping >> it, scanning it and proofreading it. The two things they want in return >> from us is to publicize their social responsibility and replace our >> scanned versions with the version they supply. The replacement issue is >> pretty much a standard requirement: publishers want to be assured of the >> quality of their books we’re distributing. For the publishers it’s built >> into the publishing culture, they do believe their original product is >> superior and that this requirement implements their contractual >> responsibilities to the authors, even though most readers wil > > l c >> >> oncur that these are also not perfect. While there are exceptions, the >> value of having 15-20,000 publisher supplied books over a year to our >> users is incredibly high. >> >> These publisher partnerships are a terrific way to help advance our >> mission, in terms of quality, quantity and uniquely, reach outside the >> United States. But, they are not going to replace our need for >> volunteers. We have a long way to go to deliver equal access to our >> users, and the market is going to fail to fill these needs for the >> foreseeable future (even as we applaud the recent accessibility work of >> Amazon, Apple and Google). >> >> Let me give you some ideas of the gaps that still exist: >> >> · Older books, specialty books, or simply books that aren’t in the >> top 5% of sales during the years since 2000. While it makes sense for us >> to invest the effort of the amazing Robin Seaman, our Publisher Liaison, >> and our engineering team to support a publisher who can give us 4,000 >> titles at once, there aren’t very many more of those big name publishers, >> but there are over 25,000 publishers. >> >> · Proofing PDF files. The bulk of publishers in the U.S., and almost >> all publishers in the developing world, don’t have the modern XML >> capabilities of the major trade publishers. We are getting tons of PDF >> books from these publishers, which need volunteer effort to convert into >> accessible form. >> >> · The international challenge: new titles, new publishers, new >> languages and new communities of Bookshare volunteers in other countries >> who would benefit from mentoring. Americans have Bookshare, but the >> average person with a print disability has nothing. We have so much more >> to do globally! >> >> · Proofing textbooks. The textbook industry is way behind the >> technology curve and Carrie is sitting on stacks of hardcopy textbooks >> sent in by teachers from around the country. >> >> · Metadata. Even if we have something, it only helps if the person >> looking for it finds it. We can use significant volunteer help cleaning >> up the information about our information. >> >> · Quality improvements. Improving quality on older, lower quality >> books. >> >> · Image description. A huge challenge that our field has barely >> begun to scratch the surface of. Our publisher contracts do allow us to >> add them to the publisher-supplied books and we recently received a >> major award over five years from the Department of Ed for the DIAGRAM >> Center, to research and then develop technology to reduce the cost of >> doing image descriptions. The centerpiece is developing tools for better >> and faster volunteer image description. Stay tuned! >> >> The list goes on. While the need for volunteer work on major trade books >> of the last five years is going down as these come in directly from >> publishers, these other needs are acute. >> >> Our responsibility is to get better at communicating with volunteers about >> our needs, and about what’s going to be happening. Our technology roadmap >> has numerous improvements planned around improving visibility on these >> issues so that you can avoid doing those books that are likely to come in >> directly in from the publisher. But, there are and will be thousands of >> opportunities for volunteer tasks that are unlikely to ever be done any >> other way than through volunteer efforts. We really want to create >> systems where having volunteer work displaced quickly by publisher >> supplied content is a rarity. >> >> We hope you’ll find personally rewarding volunteer opportunities now, and >> in the future, with Benetech. For those of you who aren’t excited about >> the changes, we understand. But, please be 100% clear: Bookshare >> volunteers have been the primary force for revolutionary change in >> accessibility of books. There are many thousands of students and adults >> with disabilities that have far greater access to the printed word thanks >> to your past efforts. But, the revolution is far from finished: we’re >> serving 100,000 people today and there are over 100,000,000 who need >> Bookshare on the planet. We hope you’ll continue to volunteer your time >> in helping realize the vision we all share of equal access for everyone >> who needs it! >> >> Jim Fruchterman & Betsy Beaumon >> >> ************************ >> From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> [bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Candice Attrill >> [candicat87@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] >> Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2010 5:52 PM >> To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Elegible books for bookshare >> >> I cirtainly hope this is not true for the reasons that Kim >> statedabove. What would be defined as accessible? What's accessible to >> you or me might not be accessible to every blind person due to >> disability. For example there are allot more audio books available >> from NLS than braille books, and even the daisy versions of these >> books could not be read by a deaf blind person unless they have some >> remaining hearing and a loop. RFB and D dispight many arguments also >> does not make the text of a book match up with audio so it could be >> read on a braille display. >> Candice >> >> On 8/14/10, Kim Friedman <kimfri11@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >>> I think there's a lot of audio that deaf-blind people find inaccessible, >>> hence putting in accessible text copies in Bookshare if the only copies >>> available in NLS is in audio. Regards, Kim Friedman. >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Roger Loran >>> Bailey >>> Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2010 9:59 AM >>> To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Elegible books for bookshare >>> >>> That's what I was thinking. It has never been true and I would be >>> interested >>> in knowing where that guideline was found. I think something must have >>> been >>> misinterpreted about it. In any case, though, let me add that it might >>> not >>> be a bad rule to follow. That is, if a book exists in accessible format >>> elsewhere I think it should be given a lower priority for adding to >>> Bookshare. Note that I did not say that it should be entirely avoided. It >>> is >>> a simple matter that it is already in accessible format somewhere and >>> there >>> are other books that are not in accessible format anywhere. It is those >>> latter books that should be given priority. >>> >>> >>> _ _ _ >>> >>> "Those who produce should have, but we know that those who produce the >>> most >>> - that is, those who work hardest, and at the most difficult and most >>> menial >>> tasks, have the least." - Eugene V. Debs >>> >>> >>> The Militant: >>> http://www.themilitant.com >>> Pathfinder Press: >>> http://www.pathfinderpress.com >>> Granma International: >>> http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "EVAN REESE" <mentat3@xxxxxxxxxxx> >>> To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>> Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2010 10:10 AM >>> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Elegible books for bookshare >>> >>> >>> MessageThis is certainly not true. To the best of my knowledge, it has >>> never >>> >>> been true. >>> >>> Evan >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: Andy B. >>> To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2010 8:37 AM >>> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Elegible books for bookshare >>> >>> >>> From what the guidelines say, the book can't be in any other "book >>> accessibility" format at another place like RFB&D, NLS/BARD and so on. Is >>> this still true? If it is, I fear that a lot of bookshare books need to >>> go >>> away then. >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to >>> bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list >>> of >>> available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. >>> >>> >>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus >>> signature >>> database 5367 (20100814) __________ >>> >>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >>> >>> http://www.eset.com >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus >>> signature >>> database 5367 (20100814) __________ >>> >>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >>> >>> http://www.eset.com >>> >>> >>> >>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus >>> signature >>> database 5367 (20100814) __________ >>> >>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >>> >>> http://www.eset.com >>> >>> >>> To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to >>> bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list >>> of >>> available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. >>> >>> >> To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to >> bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list >> of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. >> >> To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to >> bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list >> of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. >> >> > To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to > bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of > available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. > > To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to > bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of > available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. > > To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.