[bksvol-discuss] Re: Best sellers that aren't making it into the collection
- From: "solsticesinger" <solsticesinger25@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:31:09 -0600
I agree. That would be a really good solution. That way, Carrie wouldn't
have to validate things that she is uncomfortable with, and people could
have access to the books, at the same time.
Shannon
We are wise, not because we are women, but because we seek wisdom.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lora" <loravara@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 6:13 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Best sellers that aren't making it into the
collection
Hi, Monica,
First, I'd like to say that I think one solution lies in having at least two
or three people work with the bestsellers, and other books that come into
the collection through the Bookshare office. There are a few reasons for
this. First, there is certainly the benefit of more timely processing.
Secondly, there is the simple fact of human nature; we will all work on
projects that interest us more readily than those that do not. By having a
more diverse crew of employees tackling the bestsellers, each individual can
take on those projects that they find most appealing, and hopefully, in the
end, this will serve to better meet everyone's reading interests.
Secondly, although I understand that no one intends to vilify anyone, we
must all recognize that there are people with feelings and emotions at the
other end of the communications we write. Because this topic has been on
the list a lot lately, we must remember that those reading it may find
themselves feeling a little sensitive.
I'm glad that Bookshare staff will be addressing this issue in the days and
weeks to come. We clearly need an approach going forward, one that will
ensure that the many and varied interests of the Bookshare readership are
met. Having been one of those whose reading interests were long overlooked
and are finally being met through Bookshare, I'm very sensitive to the fact
that books might be excluded. Though Power to the People is not my cup of
tea, I'm willing to acquire it and send it to someone with a scanner so that
others might be able to enjoy the book. I realize that this doesn't address
the larger concern, but Bookshare staff are working on that. In the
meantime, perhaps this would be a nice Christmas present for those who would
like to read it.
Let me know.
Lora
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Monica Willyard
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 4:18 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Best sellers that aren't making it into the
collection
Lora and Shannon, I respectfully would like to comment on something you've
written on this subject because I don't think you have understood part of
what has been said. No one is questioning our ability to scan our own books
and get them approved. I don't think anyone wants to force Carrie to read a
book she doesn't like either, and I know no one wants to paint Carrie as a
villain here.
Lora wrote:
> When Power to the People came out, Carrie was volunteering. She'd already
made it publicly known on this list that certain books weren't within her
comfort level.
This isn't supposed to be about Carrie's comfort level. It's about how
Bookshare funds are being used and which New York Times bestsellers are
being put into the collection with excellent quality. Carrie isn't the only
person who scans at Bookshare, but she does control which books are being
purchased. She has said so in several posts where she discusses which books
she orders. Therefore, though I don't think that she has done this
intentionally, her preferences do directly impact timely availability of
certain bestsellers. Over the past year, she has chosen which books are
ordered and has also included several books that did not make the bestseller
list while leaving some bestsellers out of the purchase. While I think it is
a waste of time to question every book that's purchased, some of us are
becoming uncomfortable whith what appears to be a tendency to avoid certain
subjects. If we do not discuss this and work it out while it is merely a
concern, we are worried that this tendency may grow into something more
pronounced over time. So we are talking about it in the hope that a system
of checks and balances will be activated. I don't want to force Carrie to
read a book she doesn't like. I do want timely and equal access to books if
the American public chooses to put them on the New York Times bestseller
list. I know we are able to scan the books we like. No one is questioning
that. We are questioning the current bestseller process, and we are asking
for clarification on how this process will work in the future.
For now, several people have told Chris to scan the books he's asking about.
He doesn't have the software to scan books. Due to Carrie's discomfort with
the books, it doesn't look like buying them and mailing them to Bookshare
would solve the problem. I'm willing to scan them but know I can't handle
the charts in Power To The People very well. So if I get a copy of that
book, there's no way it'll go into the collection as excellent quality.
BTW, have any of you tried getting a bestseller from your library lately?
I'm number 37 in line for getting Power To The People, and my library won't
even let me put a hold on the Coulter book because they have 100 people in
the queue. Yikes! Since our library allows 2 weeks per person with books
like these, it could be as long as a year and a half before I get Power To
The People. I hope they have multiple copies and that people read it really
fast.
Monica Willyard
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