[bksvol-discuss] Re: New 3 hold maximum in check out queue
- From: "Sandi Ryan" <sjryan2@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2012 23:57:37 -0500
Madeleine,
This is the very worst rule I've ever seen proposed, and it's not proposed,
it's just stated! Why on earth would you limit the number of books that can
be held for a particular volunteer?
I am not a proofreader, I'm a scanner. When I put a hold on a particular
book for a particular person, it's because we have arranged beforehand to
work on that book, or perhaps even a series of books. Usually, one of us
has either purchased or borrowed the book(s) at our own expense, and we have
figured out that we will do books together because we both like them. Often
we mail the books back and forth--at our own expense, to accomplish this.
If there are not enough scanners putting books into the Bookshare
collection, recruit some more. I work as quickly as possible to keep three
or four proofers busy, and have started putting books in the cue that are
not holds. But it is ridiculously unfair and unreasonable to expect people
who have worked together to purchase or borrow books to just merrily hand
them off to someone else. I would be personally majorly offended if you
were to "randomly" select a book I'd put a hold on for a new volunteer to
proof.
No one is placing holds on books to keep new volunteers from working. We
are placing holds on books for particular reasons. If you'd bothered to ask
why this happens, you'd have found this out without a flood of negative
e-mails.
I enjoy volunteering for Bookshare, and want to continue. But arbitrary
rules that undermine the good work of existing volunteers in favor of
placating new volunteers are not reasonable or acceptable.
When I began volunteering for Bookshare, I thought I'd proof books. But
early on, I learned that the need for scanners was huge. I became a
scanner, and have not looked back. The new volunteers need to realize that
they, too, have this choice. And they can learn, from this list, who scans,
and ask a scanner to submit a book for them if they are truly interested in
increasing the number of books in the collection. There are plenty of books
out there yet to be scanned.
I urge you to reconsider this new rule. As a scanner, I am working with
"old" and "new" volunteers to increase the size of the Bookshare collection.
But we are not kindergarteners here. Everyone must take responsibility for
finding his or her own work. That is how this system has succeeded thus
far. Changing it in this way will hamper the work of your best volunteers!
There has to be a better way!
Sandi
----- Original Message -----
From: "Madeleine Linares" <Madeleinel@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Alisa Moore" <alisam@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; "Mayrie Renae"
<mayrier@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 6:26 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] New 3 hold maximum in check out queue
Hi Volunteers,
We are really excited because we have seen an increase in new volunteers!
Due to feedback from them, we are reducing the number of holds a volunteer
can have in the checkout queue at one time. Each volunteer may now have a
maximum of three holds at a time. We are reducing the number of allowable
holds for two reasons: First and foremost is to share the wealth! We want
new volunteers to be able to choose from a number of books that might
interest them to keep them engaged while they're still learning the ropes.
Secondly, we hope that reducing the number of holds and freeing up books
in the checkout queue will reduce "poaching."
Volunteers will have until Aug. 15 to finish up the holds already existing
for them, and after Aug. 15 I will be checking the Check Out Queue daily
and removing extra holds at random.
Thank you all for understanding and, as always, for your hard work!
Best,
The Bookshare Volunteer Dept.
To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to
bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list
of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.
To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to
bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of
available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.
Other related posts:
