[bksvol-discuss] Re: Keeping the list
- From: "Shelley L. Rhodes" <juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 22:52:23 -0500
Hey Rick,
I know several TVIs who would benefit from a Scanning 101 course. smile.
And they are mostly doing the books out of necessity.
Shelley L. Rhodes and Judson, guiding golden
juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc.
Graduate Advisory Council
www.guidedogs.com
The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to
stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs.
-- Vance Havner
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Ely" <ely.r@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2004 4:36 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Keeping the list
Marissa
I have to agree with Gisela. I would be far less likely to follow
discussions if they did not arrive unbidden in my inbox. It is interesting
to note the ups and downs of list participation. During the run up to the
holidays there was a dribble of messages. Now, many of us are free for a
time and the frequency as well as fractiousness have increased.
The whole BookShare endeavor is a process that is still in its infancy.
Having been a long time subscriber, let me assure others that there have
been a number of similar active discussions like this one of the past week
or so. This one too is likely to fade as have others. It would be a shame to
disband the list, thus limiting or reducing discussion of points that are
critical to BookShare growth. Frankly, since we are all part of an
institution, and that institution is formally headed by a small group of
employees, and since it is those employees who ultimately decide issues of
TXT Versus RTF or fair,
Verses excellent then they need to hear the real concern that volunteers
have regarding these issues.
When BookShare began, I believe that all of us were simply pleased to have
access to a wider more immediate selection of books. Offering credits for
scans and then validating have served to grow the holdings. At the same time
credits may also invite some volunteers to offer the quick and dirty as a
means for continuing their membership. Over time, our expectations as
BookShare readers have grown. Unless I am desperate for a particular title,
I avoid books rated fair. I would be offended if I went to my public library
and took out a book only to find that the print was corrupt, pages were
missing, and that the book was not divided into logical pages but assembled
on a roll of paper. I feel the same way about my BookShare downloads.
However, at this moment, we are clearly again at some kind of turning point.
BookShare staff have till now, elected to not move on insisting that books
be submitted in a format that aids navigation. Clearly, they may choose to
accept TXT files indefinitely, but long term this will effect the usefulness
of the collection. Likewise, staff may choose to continue to approve books
who's fair rating call into question their value and in some cases even what
it means to be a fair rated book.
I have no wish to suggest how volunteers elect to spend their time. I think
that as a group we have very different personalities, and we find our
gratification caring out very diverse tasks.
I have felt for some time that what we most need is a better tool for
educating volunteers than this list affords. Though we have produced lists
of tips and tricks, they often do not meet the needs of beginning
volunteers. Ideally, we BookShare, should offer courses to get the novice
started along the right track. Since many of us find transportation a
barrier, offering even many locations for training would limit who could
attend. What is needed is a simple, self paced, on-line or on CD course in
scanning and preparing an electronic version of a book. This should be
offered free and this list or a list for the novice might be womanned or
even manned by current volunteers who could answer questions. Such a course
and support could foster the Consistent production of books all of which
could receive a excellent rating.
BookShare has clearly shown its value, and therefore should be in a good
position to seek a grant to produce such a course. The materials developed
could be made available not only to BookShare volunteers, but to anyone
wishing to take on production. Though as yet it is not wide spread, there
are teachers and paraprofessionals who work with visually impaired students
who are beginning to take on this task. Like our novice volunteers, they
struggle through all the same problems we have faced. Ah, to have had a
friendly guide in those first few efforts.
So Marissa, keep the list. Redirect all this energy in a move to further
improve what we as volunteers are able to do. Ask staff to Give serious
thought to a training course, not in several years but in 2005.However much
we may snap at one another here, our intention is all headed in the same
direction, that is to provide as many quality accessible books as we
possibly can.
Rick
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