[bksvol-discuss] Re: Creating a Process for Creating Guidelines

  • From: "EVAN REESE" <mentat3@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:02:21 -0400

I don't see why you would not just skip over the info for programs or equipment 
that you did not have and just read the stuff that applies to what you do have.

Evan

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx 
  To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 10:08 AM
  Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Creating a Process for Creating Guidelines


  I can see a definite value to having these suggestions incorporated into the 
manual. However, thinking back to almost a year ago when I first became a 
volunteer, if I had read a manual that long an complicated I think I might have 
been intimidated into backing out. If I saw a lot of instructions dealing with 
programs and equipment I did not have I might have decided that I was unable to 
volunteer at all.

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  [bksvol-discuss] Re: Creating a Process for Creating Guidelines   
  Date: 
  6/10/2009 9:42:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time  
  From: 
  rpet@xxxxxxx  
  Reply-to: 
  bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx  
  To: 
  bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx  
  Sent from the Internet 
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  As an Openbook user, and someone who has had four books rejected, I concur.
              Robert

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  >>> "Nancy Martin" <nancyam@xxxxxxxxxxx> 6/9/2009 10:03 PM >>>
  Hi Pavi and list,
  One presumably change which should be made in the manual is that books are 
initially checked for fourteen days and not 30 as the manual states.

  I personally would like to see program-specific sections in the manual.  For 
example, a section on using MS Word to proof books.  The section might include
  a checklist type approach with instructions for accomplishing those tasks.  
For example, 1. check and fix fonts with appropriate instructions.  2. taking
  out paragraph breaks with Word instructions.  This would help proofers make 
sure they remembered to do all these things before submitting a book.  Another
  set of instructions would be written for OpenBook, Kurzweil 1000, etc.

  I hope I'm making some sense.
  Just my two cents worth,
  Nancy Martin
  Oklahoma
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Pavi Mehta 
    To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 4:06 PM
    Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Creating a Process for Creating Guidelines

    That's great to hear Christina! It's definitely possible to have you be on 
the team. Judy S. has also volunteered to be a part of it. As more feedback
  comes in we will keep everyone posted.

     
    All good things,

    Pavi

     
    From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Christina
    Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 2:03 PM
    To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Creating a Process for Creating Guidelines

     
    Hi, Pavi.

    This guideline shapers group is a wonderful idea.

    I'd like to be included on this team if that's possible.

    Christina

     
      ----- Original Message ----- 

      From: Pavi Mehta 

      To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 

      Cc: carrie.k@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 

      Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 4:26 PM

      Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Creating a Process for Creating Guidelines

       
      Hi All,

       
      As you know the recent guidelines that went out on Page Numbering have 
generated some understandable concern and confusion among the volunteers. Some
  of you have written in to staff with detailed emails articulating those areas 
of concern and where the guidelines  appear more inconvenient than helpful.
  Others have expressed their opinions on the list. Carrie and I have had 
several discussions recently on how best to address these concerns and modify 
the
  guidelines so that they serve as a tool and not a hindrance. As hands-on 
volunteers all of your input is valuable and we want the guidelines to reflect
  the best practices and collective wisdom of the volunteer community. 

       
      Regarding page numbers Carrie will send out a note shortly to clarify 
some of the areas of confusion and concern and explain how the guidelines  for
  this will be implemented. Bottom line is that we do understand the wide 
variety of challenges volunteers face with including page numbers in books, and
  we're glad to have had your feedback. We intend hereon for this guideline to 
be implemented with a large degree of flexibility - and will be rewriting
  the guidelines to clearly reflect the difference between page number 
requirements for educational books and other submissions.

       
      Moving forward though, for us one of the overarching questions that the 
Page Number issue brings up is: 

       
      What is the most efficient and effective way for Bookshare to do the 
following:

       
      1.       Identify volunteer areas that need guidelines

      2.       Draft guidelines and have them reviewed by a small pool of 
volunteers(in a sort of beta phase)

      3.       Finalize and share these guidelines among the greater volunteer 
community

       
      Ideally, Carrie and I feel that volunteers should have a leading and more 
transparent role to play in steps 1 and 2 above. 

      Here is a suggested approach, that it would be great to get your input on:

       
      1.       Form a self-selected team of "Bookshare Guideline Shapers" (we 
can think of a better name down the line- smile). The Guideline Shapers are
  Bookshare volunteers who step forward to help identify, draft and sound out 
missing guidelines. Even if something is brought to staff attention regarding
  a missing guideline, we would turn it over initially to this group with our 
suggestions if any.

       
      2.       The Guideline Shapers would decide on areas that need 
guidelines, work on an initial draft of these guidelines and then send them 
over to
  Carrie/me for review from the Bookshare staff perspective. The Guideline 
Shapers would go over any edits from us and come up with a revised guideline.
  They would then solicit feedback on the guideline from the volunteer list 
before making any final tweaks to it.

       
      3.       Once the guideline has been finalized, I will incorporate it in 
the Volunteer Manual, and ensure that it is announced on the volunteer blog
  as well as on the volunteer discussion list. (We will create a separate 
section of the manual for Updates to the Manual so that it is easy for people to
  keep up with the changes).

       
       
      Participation from the volunteer community while shaping policy, we feel 
is key and we think this approach could be a really invigorating way of 
facilitating
  the creation of useful guidelines from the inside-out. Of course we would be 
more than glad to help with the logistics of setting up a group alias and
  other etcs for Guideline Shapers, and to provide assistance wherever we can.  
We would love your feedback on this approach as well as to know if any of
  you are interested in being part of such a team.

       
      Warm regards,

       
      Pavi & Carrie

       
      Pavi Mehta

      Volunteer Coordinator, Bookshare

       
      Benetech 

      480 S. California Ave., Suite 201

      Palo Alto, CA 94306-1609 USA

      Phone:  +1 650 644-3459

       
      pavim@xxxxxxxxxxxx 

       
      www.benetech.org 

       
      The Benetech Initiative - Technology Serving Humanity 

      A Nonprofit Organization

       
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