[bksvol-discuss] Re: Courtesy

Hi Kim.
As chairperson of the vat, I can assure you that bookshare, especially Pavi, is 
aware of this problem and it is receiving the highest possible priority. Pavi 
and I have a weekly telephone conversation that lasts about an hour in length. 
For the last three or four weeks the problem of bolunteers and outsourcers 
scanning each others books is the first topic we discuss, and will continue to 
be so.

Unfortunately, saying that this is a high priority item doesn't solve the 
problem. We have tried posting the list of books being scanned by outsourcers 
as excel spreadsheets, and it crashed most of our computers. (Not a good 
solution.) We think we have worked out a solution, and the problem is now how 
to get the list updated in a timely manner. 

Pavi is on vacation until August 31, but after that we'll continue working 
towards a meaningful solution.

Please hang in there until then. I really believe we are close to a solution.

Thanks,
Bob


"We know the future will outlast all of us, but I believe that all of us will 
live on in the future we make,"
Senator Edward M. Kenedy 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kim Friedman 
  To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 7:21 AM
  Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Courtesy


  What gets me is I feel for you guys. I'm wondering is Bookshare staff on the 
ball about this. It doesn't do to alienate volunteers who are doing their very 
best to insure excellent quality books being added to the collection only to 
have their work undercut by others. Isn't Pavi or Carrie advocating for your 
work? Why isn't there some communications to these outsourcers informing them 
that they should do something else as other folks, namely you lot, are scanning 
and proofreading the following titles? I really think the volunteers need a 
staunch ombudsman or arbitrator to make sure that what you scan and proofread 
isn't swept from out of your hands unless you give it over. I think this is not 
only a matter of courtesy but a need for communication and co-ordination among 
all the participants -- Bookshare staff, the volunteers, and the outsourcers. I 
really think Staff should not allow resentments to grow making the volunteers 
discouraged or feel undervalued. It's very nice they talk the talk, but they 
have to walk the walk, I.e., do some serious actions to make sure volunteers 
know that the staff is for them and not sabotaging them. I may not understand 
the history here, and maybe I'm off base, but something must be done somehow. 
Regards, Kim.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Christina
  Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 7:03 PM
  To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Courtesy


  Hi.  I    agree with Elizabeth's message.  (Sadly it's on my other computer 
so I can't quote it here.)
  I would deeply appreciate it if the outsourcers and all volunteers would 
check the books-being-scanned list before processing a book.  I just had 
another book, which is being edited, put into the collection by another 
submitter and proofer team.
  If someone wants to scan a book that the list says I'll be doing, I honestly 
don't mind.  It just means I'll go onto the next book.  What really frustrates 
me is when book after book that I've already scanned gets added to the 
collection by someone else.  I understand mistakes happen but when I spend 
hours of my time working on books, only to have someone else beat me to it...  
I get very annoyed and discouraged.

  I'm still happy volunteering for Bookshare and I don't intend to quit; I just 
hate having my time and efforts completely wasted.
  Christina



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