[bksvol-discuss] Re: gaps in the collection

  • From: "siss52" <siss52@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:00:49 -0600

Monica,

Beggin' your pardon, but do you really think sighted print disabled 
outnumber us?  I doubt it.  (smile)

Sue S.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "E." <thoth93@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 5:45 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: gaps in the collection


Since you specifically mention RFBD I was thinking of them when I
wrote that note.

I have also written notes recently suggesting that the site designers
may be concentrating on a web page which is sometimes more difficult
for blind patrons to use but which sighted folks like a lot. This
does concern me.

E.

At 05:06 PM 2/23/2009, you wrote:
>Hi Elizabeth. I hear your concern and know you want to make sure Bookshare
>uses its resources wisely. That's one of the things that I appreciate about
>you. You are frugal and don't want resources to be wasted. I think adding
>certain types of books over time is an investment in our future rather than
>just a drain on resources. I also know it's a mental and emotional stretch
>to see Bookshare move from a primarily blind organization to a group of
>people with various disabilities of which blindness is just one. We're not
>used to that yet, and many of us remember how badly things went with RFB&D.
>So as you read my note, will you please consider what I'm saying and think
>about how we can learn from our past and do something better this time?
>
>I think the needs of sighted people have to be considered because they make
>up the majority of people with a print disability. Soon they will outnumber
>blind users. I have two goals in mind here. I want sighted readers to find
>books they need for things just like we blind people can. Their need for
>accessible books is just as great as ours. Sighted people who use services
>like Bookshare and NLS tend to be more quiet about it, using services as a
>tool rather than a community. That means you won't see most of them 
>chatting
>on this list. Nevertheless, they are a significant portion of our
>population, and their needs, goals,  and interests are just as valid as
>those held by blind users. When they pay for their membership, they should
>have just as much service and selection as blind users get.
>
>Second, I want to head off a war of ideas and priorities between our blind
>and sighted users by making allies, not opponents. if we insist that
>Bookshare use its resources based on who is able to  use a book, we could
>set up a dynamic down the road where sighted users could say they object to
>money spent on books about blindness because it's not relevant to the
>majority of users. As I see it, the only fair way to do things is to pay
>attention to everyone's needs and fill gaps in the collection as if
>Bookshare is a fully functioning library. Then people can freely choose 
>what
>they wish to read. Btw, I'll read books about all of the subjects I brought
>up including defensive driving since I have a teenager in my home.
>
>I believe it's our job as volunteers to advocate for the needs of all
>members, even if we don't like some of the books that result from it. Just
>as we champion the needs of people with varying faiths or political
>persuasions, I think we have to consider the needs of users who can see.
>Otherwise, we risk discriminating against them as others have discriminated
>against us.
>
>Finally, in the interest of full disclosure, I have two sighted family
>members who are eligible for Bookshare and are learning to use it. They 
>have
>severe learning disabilities, and one of them is now able to read for the
>first time at age 63. Some sighted people get teased because they can't 
>read
>and until recently got little support in school. Their disabilities are 
>just
>as painful, confusing, and frustrating as blindness, and I think the social
>stigma is just as intense in most respects. We are more alike than
>different, and we can make a great team if we work together.
>
>Monica Willyard
>"The best way to predict the future is to create it." -- Peter Drucker
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of E.
>Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 3:20 PM
>To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: gaps in the collection
>
>Given bookshare's limited resources, it may be wise to include books
>of use by as many people as possible first and then go on to books
>which can only be used by sighted folks later.
>
>E.
>
>
>At 03:04 PM 2/23/2009, you wrote:
> >Hi Carrie. Since Bookshare serves sighted people, I see some gaps
> >others may not have mentioned. Books about defensive driving, car
> >maintenance, beauty/fashion, bird watching, scrapbooking, and home
> >decorating and remodeling are missing from Bookshare. We also don't
> >have many books about flower arranging, varieties of flowers and
> >plants, and landscaping. Many of our books about houseplants and
> >gardening are rated fair and are hard to read. They aren't visible
> >to new members by default. In fact, our "Home and Garden" category
> >is fairly anemic, especially since around half of the 181 books are
> >Shelley's series of children's books about animals that are
> >"nature's children." If you watch TV, networks like TLC, A&E, Style,
> >and HGTV are full of shows about decorating, remodeling, and
> >restoring houses or about planting lovely gardens and landscaping
> >with designs that flatter the style of a home.
> >
> >So far, Bookshare's collection doesn't reflect these types of
> >interests. I haven't figured out if this lack of content is due to
> >lack of interest from submitters or if the material is difficult to
> >scan. It could be a combination of both. I do know that sighted
> >people read books on these subjects and think they will expect to
> >see books about these topics in the collection.
> >
> >Monica Willyard
> >"The best way to predict the future is to create it." -- Peter Drucker
> >
> >
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