[bksvol-discuss] Re: Duplicating NLS Titles

Please don't misunderstand; I have no problem with duplicating books, but I do 
have a problem with opinion stated as fact. As you may know, NLS did not go to 
CDs because they are already becoming obsolete; see information about flash 
cards and the Victor Stream as mentioned by Ann Parsons. Many changes may be 
taking place at NLS; let's hope they are all to the good.  I agree that if this 
topic is to be continued it should be preceded with OT. I am older than most of 
you on this list, have been an NLS patron from the inception of the Talking 
Book program and a braille user before then. As a result I have seen its 
development over the years. I was also fortunate enough to have served on the 
Collection committee for two years which perhaps has afforded me a better 
picture of its workings than most users have had. I have nothing but praise for 
Jim Fruchterman's vision and have every hope that it will continue to grow and 
flourish but could point out some misjudgment in the way memberships were 
awarded for bad scanning and bad validating. If NLS staff is worried about job 
continuance, I wonder if this isn't largely because more and more E books are 
becoming available, not because the program has been mismanaged. 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: maithe007 
  To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 10:19 PM
  Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Duplicating NLS Titles


  Jill,

  I have a friend that works for them and he says that their jobs are on the 
line.  I don't know if the reasons are because of bad management, less people 
are reading, other technologies are taking over, but it is a fact that they are 
all worried about their jobs.  

  I know that they were planning on transferring their books into a CD 
format...don't know what happened to that.  Either way, I do think it is a good 
idea to have these books in all available forms.  I sometimes like to read on 
my computer and at other times, I prefer to listen to a book on tape.  When I 
scan, I listen to a book on tape.  When I clean, I listen to these books on 
tape.  So, both technologies will hopefully continue to progress.

  There is a major problem at NLS and we need to protect ourselves.  We need to 
scan all books available...just in case.

  Maithe


    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Jill O'Connell 
    To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 12:55 AM
    Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Duplicating NLS Titles


    I think your number 4 statement is unfair and inaccurate. 
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Monica Willyard 
      To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
      Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 8:46 PM
      Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Duplicating NLS Titles


      Hi. I can think of 4 compelling reasons to scan books that are currently 
available on cassette from NLS. In order of importance to me, they are:

      1. NLS has said they're going to retire cassettes within a few years and 
do not plan to convert most of those titles to digital format. So they will be 
completely inaccessible in just a few years. 2013 is the year they're planning 
to begin this process. Does anyone remember what happened when they retired the 
great books on records? You still can't get over half of those older books 
anywhere now.

      2. Cassettes are bulky and break easily. They are not really a great 
medium for books to begin with and are a hassle for people who like to read on 
the go. You can't easily search them for information you want or need, and you 
can't make bookmarks at your favorite passages while still being able to move 
around in the book.

      3. Our deaf/blind and some of our learning disabled membership can't use 
audio and need material in Braille.

      4. NLS has been grossly mismanaging their funding. Frankly, I think it's 
possible that they will be shut down if they don't shape up. Then we'd end up 
having to scan those books anyway, and we'd be reacting in a sort of panic. I'd 
rather have books in both places so if we lose one, we still have the other and 
aren't stranded.

      Monica Willyard

      Evan Reese wrote: 
        I don't think that it is true that we frown on duplicate books. 
Personally, I don't think it should matter. I'm validating two books now that 
are part of the NLS collection, and very well recorded at that. There are many 
here who, for one reason or another, such as being deaf-blind or hard of 
hearing, can't access most of NLS's collection - since most of it is on tape. 
So whether a book is available from NLS should not be a factor in deciding 
whether to scan it for Bookshare. If it isn't in the collection, and it does 
not violate the legalities, then it is fair game. 

        I also like Nero Wolfe, but when other commitments will allow me the 
time to scan any is something I'll have to look at. One thing in their favor is 
that most of them are not very long books, so they should be fairly quick 
scans. 

        Evan 

        ----- Original Message ----- From: <james.homme@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 
        To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
        Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 9:46 AM 
        Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Nero Wolf Was found 8 new Agatha Christie 
books! 



          Hi, 
          I know we frown on duplicate books and that NLS has a good deal of 
Nero 
          Wolf audio books, but I know of hardly any braille ones, which makes 
me 
          wonder how extensive our collection of Nero Wolf books is? That said, 
if 
          anyone ever wants to scan them let me know and I'll validate. 

          Thanks. 

          Jim 

          James D Homme, 
          Usability Engineering 
          Highmark Inc. 
          james.homme@xxxxxxxxxxxx 
          412-544-1810 

          "It's more important for me to start to do the right thing than it is 
to 
          wait until I think I 
          can do it just right." 

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