I don't have any brilliant, helpful hints either; I just correct scanner mistakes after the fact, when I read the book. I'm a fairly new Openbook user (before that I had a great relationship with my old Reading Edge; ah, I miss ya, Perfect Paul! LOL Multi-tasking was easy with that machine.) But... I also have done away with the scanner lid, and I haven't found this to be a problem. My computer doesn't handle other jobs while I scan either, as Allison said. Talking on the phone or reading something else (on tape) is what I usually do whilst scanning. Joanie "Wise is he not who is never silent, Mouthing meaningless words: A glib tongue that goes on chattering Sings to its own harm." -Havamal ----- Original Message ----- From: "Allison Hilliker" <amhillik@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2004 9:17 PM Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Better Scans? > Hi Cindy and others! > > Thanks for your thoughts. I'm impressed that you edit while scanning, I > think I would lose track of what page I'm on and skip or rescan pages, lol. > Plus, running the scanner slows down my comp for some reason, and makes it > virtually unusable while scanning. I've gotten better at the multi-tasking > however, I scan while talking on the phone sometimes, that's kinda fun > actually. > > As for submitting your books, I really really think you should submit yours! > Don't worry too much bout the criticism, if they except my books, they'll > take yours, hahaha. Also, I think most Bookshare members, not all I know, > but most just want to improve the book collection, not cut down other people > and their scanning abilities. In fact, you make a good point, we could all > stand to be a bit gentler when talking about scan quality I think. We don't > wanna scare away potential contributors! Submissions are submissions, and > every one counts. Just know that every book that you upload could be > enjoyed by at least one other person, who may not have read it otherwise. > To me, that is something that feels wonderful to be able to give. > > And trust me, no one's flamed my submissions yet, I'm the only one who has, > lol! one of them was pretty rough. If you're feeling self-conscious about > your scanning skills, check out "Women Who Shaped World History." It's a > sad lil animal. It's readable, but only just. It was a bedraggled lil old > paperback from our university library, and almost nothing could improve the > scan. Anyway, they took it, and hopefully some people have been able to > enjoy it. The point is, if you can read it, someone else may to, and don't > worry bout the rest. > > If you're really still concerned, make up some sort of nick-name to put on > your > uploads. That way, if people feel like being critical, at least it will > likely never get back to you. You don't have to use your first and/or last > name on uploads. You can change the display name for that in your account > settings somewhere. Unlike Mary, I don't recommend putting no name on your > submissions, cuz then it just puts you down as a Bookshare volunteer. This > means that no one can search for the other books you've submitted. No one > needs to know who you are, but their knowing what other things you've > scanned could prove helpful. For example, if I like a certain book, I often > check the books submitted by the person who scanned it because chances are > we have similar tastes. If they are listed as just a volunteer, I don't get > this chance. In fact, I'm really disappointed when I can't find a submitter > for a book. You don't need your name, just a name to distinguish your > scans. All my submissions just have my nickname up there, I > find that it works well for me that way. > > Also, just out of curiosity, what year are you at in school? What are ya > studying? I'm in Michigan, and am an elementary ed major who will be a > senior in the fall, finally, yay! I'm working at a center for the blind in > Minneapolis this summer, helping to run their summer programs for blind > kids. > I'm really excited about it. Hopefully I'll still have a little time left > for summer reading though.... I hope I hope I hope! > > Well, the storms here are still raging and so I sit at the computer hoping > that Lightening doesn't fry my comp. Should prob shut it down, but > brilliance was never my strength. I'm only a college student after all. > <grin>. > > All the best, > Allison > >