Fair question E.
I should have provided more of an explanation of our process in my
earlier email, My apologies.
We now have a new methodology for sourcing synopses that involves
using an online database called Bowker. For a fee, Bowker provides
book metadata and makes it possible for us to pull down the
information we need, including synopses automatically for all our PQ
books. As you can imagine this helps increase the speed and
efficiency with which PQ books enter the collection. Currently the
tricky part is the fact when PQ books enter the collection the
synopses sourced from Bowker have to each be uploaded individually
by a staff member. We are hoping to be able to automate this with
the new site, and our turnaround times for this will only get
quicker in the future. The duplication of effort comes in if a
volunteer writes up a synopsis for a book that we have already
sourced from Bowker (which thankfully has not happened).
In terms of integrating volunteers into Bookshare's work beyond the
scanning and validation realm, that is something that I am more than
happy to discuss further with you or any other volunteers who have
specific ideas. My email records indicate that we did not turn down
your offer E. but responded that we would indeed keep you in mind if
an opportunity for staffing a Bookshare table came up near your area
in Manhattan. From my discussions with senior staff members here, I
understand that Bookshare actually has worked with member volunteers
in a number of different ways over the years -- including site
development and other engineering related roles. Regarding the
bibliography question, I don't quite understand what it is you are
suggesting and look forward to clarifying my understanding with you offline.
Perhaps what this thread indicates is that we -- or more
specifically I -- do indeed need to do a better job of communicating
to the volunteer community all the different ways in which you
contribute to the work. Thank you E. for taking the time to draw
attention to the issue -- and for your thoughtful follow up mail
explaining where you are coming from with all of this. The new site
roll out is fast approaching and demands a lot of our attention at
Bookshare, but I'd like to make explicit to the list, that I'm
always willing to listen to ideas any of you may have for
contributing beyond the call of scanning & validation. And I
genuinely hope to facilitate such contributions as we move forward together.
All good things,
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
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[<mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of E.
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 1:45 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Speaking of synopses..?
What goes on with bookshare that they have such a hard time putting
in place an efficient system for using the large pool of volunteers
at their disposal?
Using them for book descriptions is one possibility.
Using us volunteers for other tasks has been pretty thoroughly
discouraged for the six years I have been with bookshare. No use of
programmers. No use of people to put together bibliographies on
various subjects. No use of volunteers to go to schools and colleges
to talk about bookshare.
I have volunteered to go to schools, staff booths at exhibits, write
bibliographies. Always I have been turned down.
The last trade show I went to had a empty bookshare booth. I would
have been happy to volunteer to staff it. No use of volunteers for
that either apparently.
What complex procedures need to be put in place for using volunteers
when you are so short staffed that the work keeps piling up?
Elizabeth
At 04:31 PM 11/6/2008, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>In terms of what to do when you encounter a PQ book in the
>collection that is missing a synopsis here is the current process
>we'd like to set in place for this:
>PQ files are being added to the collection on a regular basis and
>the staff is working hard to have synopses attached to every book as
>soon as possible. Because of various complications there is
>sometimes a slight delay in synopsis entry. If it is a new book in
>the collection though, it should have a synopses in by the end of a
>week. If you notice a PQ book that is not on the new books page and
>that is lacking a synopses please send me an email with the title of
>the book and we will make sure to work on it.
>
>Down the line we would like to explore having volunteers help with
>these synopses, but for the moment definitely want to avoid
>duplication of effort. Once our processes are established and there
>is an efficient system in place for soliciting volunteer-written
>synopses we will be sure to let you know.
>
>Warm regards,
>
>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
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[<mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>mailto:bksvol-discuss-
bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of My Nickels Worth
>Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 1:18 PM
>To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Speaking of synopses..?
>
>Oh, cool-thanks!
>
>Caitlyn
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[<mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>mailto:bksvol-discuss-
bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of E.
>Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 3:37 PM
>To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Speaking of synopses..?
>
>
>There is absolutely something you can do. You can send them to Alison
>who will post them. She used to be in charge of updating book
>descriptions. If that fails, try sending them to Pavi and perhaps she
>can forward them to the correct person.
>
>E.
>At 03:10 PM 11/6/2008, you wrote:
> >Is there anything we can do for publisher quality books which lack a
> >synopsis? Lots of times, I've read down the list of new books, for
> >example, and there are quite a few which have absolutely nothing
> >written as a synopsis, just the copyright date..
> >
> >What can we do, if anything?
> >
> >Caitlyn
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to
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