Do I understand correctly that these PDF to RTF conversions will appear in the checkout list?
_ _ _"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: "Scott Rains" <scottr@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 2:14 PMSubject: [bksvol-discuss] News on Files in the Volunteer Workflow the Originate from Publishers as PDF
Volunteers,Yesterday staff from various departments met about volunteers proofing the PDF files mentioned by Jim Fruchterman and Betsy Beaumon in their letter to the list. Afterward Pavi Mehta, a volunteer consultant (Christine Lu), and I met to continue data gathering and analysis for the Volunteer Department strategic planning process. Following this Rick Costa and I touched base on the details of converting the files and preparing documentation for you.
The first meeting established the workflow steps involved. The second meeting reminded us how important it is to collect data as we change or develop new processes. The third moved us from talk to action. This email is to anticipate a few questions you may have while you wait for these files to appear in the queue:
1) Bookshare will convert the PDF files to RTF before you receive them.After PDF to RTF conversion Rick will do some cleanup using macros he has written before the files are placed in the queue to be proofed. Files that originate as PDF will be tagged in the filename for ease of identification in the queue. Since the files will flow through the existing queue and come to you as RTF your workflow will be similar to working with books that originated as scans of physical books.
2) Documentation will be prepared to answer technical or workflow questions.You will come to recognize clusters of errors that are typical of PDF to RTF conversion. These will be slightly different than print to RTF via OCR errors. We are developing a tip sheet to alert you to what we have learned about typical PDF to RTF scannos. As always your further observations and solutions will be valuable as additions to training materials. Keep in mind our new file-sharing policy as you work out for yourselves how to take on new volunteer tasks. Your innovations involving teaming will be of interest to us all.
3) New data gathering practices are evolvingAs we roll out new ways to address the bullet points in Jim and Betsy's letter such as this task, textbooks, BSO of Fair and Good quality books, and adding metadata we will be asking volunteers to participate in various forms of feedback, including inviting specific volunteers to test processes. Details will follow as available.
4) We want to combine automation with transparencyIn general we are moving toward a system where it is easier to identify who touched a piece of work at each stage. For example, it is sometimes helpful for a proofer to ask a question directly to a book's scanner. To help with our transparency goal please adopt the practice of checking to see your email address is available and including notes to the next person in the process where appropriate. As we automate some procedures so we can break tasks down into smaller bits or move larger volumes more quickly we are working to be certain that automated communications are clear while real humans remain within easy reach for unexpected situations.
5) Response time to questions on PDF files will varyThe addition into the volunteer workflow of files that originate as PDF is not one of the automated processes. In fact, it will be a manual process falling largely on Rick at every stage. Since you will receive RTF files but not the PDF or a TIFF your questions referring back to the original PDF will be one more step requiring Rick's time. We are aware that this is a design bottleneck. As we test this workflow we may find that the best solution involves reserving these files for a limited number of volunteers who accept them on assignment. This option is under discussion but not decided upon yet.
6) It is too early to announce a date when converted PDF files will flow into the queue.
A safe projection on when would be to vaguely say, "in September."Finally, everyone on the list has noted the high volume of posts. I think everyone appreciates the discipline it takes to try to keep up with that flow and to limit some of the more fun posts that are part of community-building. Thank you.
Here, to remind us why we have been so focussed lately I recap the bullet points from the letter on seven newer volunteer-related items we are working on simultaneously:
· Determining safe books to scan with our new PQ influx · Proofing PDF files· Working with new international titles, publishers, languages and new communities of Bookshare volunteers
· Proofing textbooks · Metadata · Quality improvements · Image description Thanks for all the work you do! Scott Rains Benetech Fellow, Bookshare Volunteer Department ________________________________________ To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxput 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.
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