[bksvol-discuss] Re: Best sellers that aren't making it into the collection
- From: "Lora" <loravara@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:23:48 -0700
I agree with Shannon. Bookshare has made countless books accessible to us
that would never be made available by NLS or other agencies that practice
casual censorship. By casual censorship I mean that they assume that blind
people would never want to read books about certain topics, and thus those
books are never even considered.
Even when NLS adds books to the collection, they're not added timely; I can
read a new release through Bookshare often within a few weeks of its
release.
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. Just as I would never force someone to scan or validate a
book on pornography, alternate religion or any other controversial topic,
it's reasonable to say that as a volunteer that you won't scan or validate
books of a politically opposing viewpoint.
Now that this question has been raised, Lisa has said that they will discuss
the topic in-house, and devise a policy. In the meantime, if you want these
books in the collection, do what any of us would do with a book we really
wanted to read. Go to your public library, go to a bookstore, or even
purchase the book on-line and send it to Bookshare. There are a few people
in the office who could scan the book, and even if no one there wanted to
validate it, they could submit it to the Step 1 page with your name on it,
and you could validate it. Carrie's done that for me on several occasions.
Eventually, we'll learn Bookshare's policy regarding the bestsellers, and
then we can respond accordingly.
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of solsticesinger
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 6:58 AM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Best sellers that aren't making it into the
collection
Honestly, if you are that concerned about it, and want to read these books
so badly, you really should scan them yourself, or find somebody to do so on
your behalf.
No one stops books from becoming part of the collection because of their
subject matter. Whether or not a particular person chooses to scan and
process a given book is a matter of personal choice, but, no one is saying
that certain books are not allowed in the collection.
I'm a lesbian and a Pagan. Now, there are books on both LBGT topics, and on
the Pagan religion in the collection. Both subjects are considered
controversial. Yet, I have found that bookshare is one of the only places I
can obtain such material.
Yes. Some of it I have scanned myself. Some of it has been scanned by
others, but, the point is, no one stopped the books from being part of the
collection, because of their subject matter.
Shannon
We are wise, not because we are women, but because we seek wisdom.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Feist" <ccfeist@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 11:59 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Best sellers that aren't making it into the
collection
Hi all. After some investigating, I see that I'm still confused, and I
believe with good reason. I'm posting this on both lists. To begin with,
I'll quote directly from the Bookshare Web site.
"Bookshare.org is proud to be able to bring to its subscribers all the books
that have appeared in the top 10 on the New York TimesR Best Sellers lists
in fiction and nonfiction, hardcover and paperback alike, from September,
2005 through September, 2007 . . . We're working on our October/November
2007 best sellers; as new titles appear on these lists, we purchase these
books, process them in-house, and add them to our collection."
Based on the information above, all books that appear on the NYT top 10
shall be routinely added to the collection. It goes on to say, "Our
volunteers make sure that the Bookshare.org library includes current books
on The New York Times Best Seller list."
And yet, for some reason unclear to me, it has been brought to light that
Power to the People by Laura Ingraham was never added to the collection.
First, Ann Coulter's new book is passed over, and now I learn of another top
10 book that shared the same fate.
It's significant to point out that Power to the People reached #1 on the New
York Times Best Sellers list. Let me repeat that. It went all the way, in
fact it debuted, at #1. How could a #1 book possibly get overlooked? To
the best of my knowledge, there has been only one explanation given for its
exclusion, (and thanks to Jamie for bringing it to our attention). Surely
there is a more adequate explanation. If there is, I'd really appreciate
some clarification. It's unfortunate that the book was not included at the
very least, and it raises some disturbing, but valid, questions-especially
considering the similarity of both authors.
Also on the Web site, I've discovered that Bookshare takes donations to
assist in broadening the collection: "We obtain a new book either by
purchasing it or having it donated. Decisions on which books to purchase are
made based on user requests and surveys, best-seller lists, book award
winners and recommendations from teachers and school administrators."
Again, this is baffling because Power to the People has been both 1.
requested and, 2. was a #1 on both New York Times and Amazon. I don't know
if the consideration of "user requests" is taken by a show of hands, but
just in case, I'd like to add my request for Power to the People as well.
As far as it's status as a best seller, I believe Power to the People's
success speaks for itself.
It has been suggested that if I want a best seller added to the collection
that has been skipped over, I could always purchase the book myself and send
it to the Bookshare office or find someone to scan it for me. In view of
Bookshare's policy on providing members with best sellers, plainly that
endeavor lies with Bookshare itself. I do understand that volunteers submit
the books they wish to, and that is what makes up a significant portion of
the collection. However, clearly that process is not supposed to include
best sellers.
Let me close by saying I've merely raised some concerns I have. I'm not
pointing fingers at anyone. In fact, I'm reading what people have to say on
list, and then reading the information on the Bookshare Web site, and for
whatever reason, 2 + 2 is not equaling 4.
Thank you for your time,
Chris Feist - The one and only!
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