[bksvol-discuss] Re: NLS vs. Bookshare
- From: "Shelley L. Rhodes" <juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 18:00:22 -0400
The advantages that I see of Bookshare that people haven't mentioned are.
1. Totally volunteer driven choices on books. We have books on Bookshare
that NLS will not touch, or wouldn't touch or pay money to touch, smile. I
am thinking of our more conservative religious stuff, and the more well
radical literature. There is no censureship, if you want it in alternate
format it has a copyright and is complete Bookshare will take it, smile.
2. Braille books are enormous, and I am glad people have the size to hold
them, I don't.
And I will say in the four years, I have never paid a membership of any kind
to Bookshare.
I have scanned and validated my way to a membership all four years, going on
Five in january, where there is a will there is a way, smile. And those
arguements have been around for years, and yet people make the money
available.
Heck, most braille books you purchase cost more than one year's subscription
to Bookshare, smile. Or accessible games, or one book on CD in most cases.
It just depends on the priorities and as has been said you can validate your
way to a membership.
Shelley L. Rhodes M.A., VRT, CTVI
and Judson, guiding golden
juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc.
Graduate Alumni Association Board
www.guidedogs.com
More than Any other time, When i hold a beloved book in my hand, my
limitations fall from me, my spirit is free.
- Helen Keller
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jamie Yates" <jamieyates@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Bookshare Volunteers" <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 9:41 AM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] NLS vs. Bookshare
My friend sent this to me and asked me to ask opinions of the Bookshare
volunteers. You can email me privately if you wish offlist at
jamieyates@xxxxxxxxxxx
My feeling is that for $50 a year for pretty much unlimited books,
Bookshare does a very valuable service. I don't know and understand
completely how NLS works but from helping her with some problems I spent a
long time on hold with the Cleveland library trying to sort out her NLS
account (she doesn't have a Braille tty set up right now) and they were very
helpful but it takes time to get a physical book in the mail. With Bookshare
the access is instant. As a sighted person, I'm almost jealous! I have to
drive 10 miles to the library to get the books I want. and then I can only
keep them for 3 weeks. So I think Bookshare is pretty great and I tell
people about it all of the time.
Anyway here is what she is asking:
Jamie,
This is from on of my DB friends. I thought you could share with the
Bookshare
Volunteer list and send me any good things they have to say. (and your
feelings
too)
a debate going on about Bookshare and National
Library Service which should be providing braille readers with ANY braille
book
they wish to read free of charge. One member said she knew of others who
could
not afford to pay the $50 annual fee for Bookshare, and neither could she.
Another said that she'd like to be able to curl up in a chair and read a
brailled book. She's not sure how to download a book and convert it into
braille.
I don't know anything about how to do this. I was wondering if you could
give your view on Bookshare vs NLS and what the advantages or disadvantages
are.
Why isn't the NLS doing what Bookshare is doing?
Jamie in Michigan
Currently reading: Ceremony in Death - J.D. Robb
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