[bksvol-discuss] Re: Blank lines and page numbers
- From: Madeleine Linares <Madeleinel@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:50:36 +0000
Hi Valerie,
Thank you for this—I think you make an excellent point: It is better to protect
just in case than lose page numbers. I will absolutely return a book if page
numbers are not on their own lines, and putting a blank line before and after
is a great way to ensure this. Given your long history as a proofreader (as
well as Mayrie’s and Judy’s), I have no doubt that you know what you’re talking
about and I very much respect and appreciate your input!
I had not been informed of this blank line before and after the page number
formula, so the first thing I did upon reading all of these questions and
hearing about that rule was to chat with two coworkers in collection
development who have quite some years of experience with the conversion tool
and proofreading. They didn’t know anything about the blank lines before and
after the line with the page numbers either. While they agreed, as do I, that
this is a great way to ensure that the page number doesn’t get lost in the
text, they informed me that they weren’t necessary since the converter will
strip blank lines out anyway.
Since I have been approving books with the blank lines before and after the
page number AND with the page break, the page number on the line below, and the
text starting the line below that with no complaints from members as to the
missing page numbers or book quality, I don’t see the need to require it.
This whole issue puts me in a tricky position and I hope you can understand
where I am coming from. I very much value and respect your opinions (and the
others on this discussion list—as I know I have certainly learned a lot from
all of you over the past year). I also very much respect my coworkers’ thoughts
on the matter. I hesitate to declare a “right” and “wrong” answer for the blank
lines issue, as there does not seem to be a wrong answer! Perhaps I just
haven’t come across an example where the blank lines would help, and this is
entirely possible. If someone can provide concrete examples to prove this
discussion one way or another, I am more than happy to read them and keep
discussing this.
Best,
Madeleine
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Valerie Maples
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 5:07 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Blank lines and page numbers
Madeleine;
I would not say it is a matter of confidence in our proofreading tools, in my
case any of four versions of Microsoft word on Mac or PC, but experience that
after conversion sometimes the page numbers are not retained as a seperate line
without the blank line of protection above and below. As Judy said, her
experience, along with Mayrie's and mine is that lines are often combined (just
like two line chapter occurrences), thus it is better to protect than risk
losing.
Just my four years of experience...
Valerie
www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicholemaples<http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicholemaples>
________________________________
From: Madeleine Linares
<Madeleinel@xxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Madeleinel@xxxxxxxxxxxx>>
To: "bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>"
<bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Sent: Tue, March 19, 2013 4:54:01 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Blank lines and page numbers
Hi Valerie and Sue,
It absolutely can’t hurt to put in the blank lines before and after. I was told
by staff that it wasn’t necessary to do so. I will leave it up to your good
judgment: if you don’t trust the converter or if aren’t positive that the page
number is on its own line, put in the blank spaces above and below. If you are
sure that the page number is on its own line, then you do not need to put in
the blank lines.
My guess is that the various proofreading tools read blank lines in different
ways and putting a blank line before and after the line with the page number
was a way of compromising for all of the various tools that people use. In some
cases, it is not necessary and creates a lot more work. I don’t want to create
more work for anyone, which is the reason for my response that since they are
not necessary, I will not reject a book without a blank line before and after
the page numbers.
To summarize: keeping the blank lines before and after the line with the page
number is a great rule of thumb, but for those confident in their tools and
skills, they do not need to put blank lines before and after the page numbers.
I hope this is an acceptable compromise!
Best,
Madeleine
From:
bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Valerie Maples
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 2:20 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Blank lines and page numbers
I am with you, Roger! And, once I left the line out after the number (maybe a
year ago?) and the page numbers were in the text. I don't trust the "tool" and
protect all my page numbers with a blank line before and after.
Valerie
www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicholemaples<http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nicholemaples>
________________________________
From: Roger Loran Bailey <rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx<mailto:rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx>>
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tue, March 19, 2013 2:38:26 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Blank lines and page numbers
#
Uh, when did that change? From the beginning of my volunteering I recall being
told that a blank line must appear before the page number to keep the converter
from stripping out that page number. I was also told that a blank line needed
to be placed after the page number and I was not quite clear on why that was
until relatively recently when an old timer on this list explained that it was
to help the converter find the page number. Every time the subject has come up
on this list since I first subscribed the conclusion has been consistent with
what I just explained. Did something change and it slipped by me?
On 3/19/2013 2:03 PM, Madeleine Linares wrote:
Hi everyone,
Sorry for my delayed response to these questions. I do get each email
individually, but, as you may imagine, when you combine the discussion list
with my other emails, it’s a lot of volume!
Page numbers must be on their own line with NOTHING ELSE on that line. They
must be font size 12 or less. The converter will remove blank lines so if you
want to put blank lines in, fine, but the converter will remove them. The only
requirement for our converter to recognize page numbers is that they be size 12
font or less and on their own line with nothing else. It doesn’t require blank
lines above and below.
Please let me know if you need more clarification.
Best,
Madeleine Linares
Volunteer Coordinator
Bookshare, a Benetech Initiative
650-644-3459
madeleinel@xxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:madeleinel@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
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