[bksvol-discuss] Re: Creating a Process for Creating Guidelines
- From: "Nancy Martin" <nancyam@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 22:03:11 -0500
Hi Pavi and list,
One presumably change which should be made in the manual is that books are
initially checked for fourteen days and not 30 as the manual states.
I personally would like to see program-specific sections in the manual. For
example, a section on using MS Word to proof books. The section might include
a checklist type approach with instructions for accomplishing those tasks. For
example, 1. check and fix fonts with appropriate instructions. 2. taking out
paragraph breaks with Word instructions. This would help proofers make sure
they remembered to do all these things before submitting a book. Another set
of instructions would be written for OpenBook, Kurzweil 1000, etc.
I hope I'm making some sense.
Just my two cents worth,
Nancy Martin
Oklahoma
----- Original Message -----
From: Pavi Mehta
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 4:06 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Creating a Process for Creating Guidelines
That's great to hear Christina! It's definitely possible to have you be on
the team. Judy S. has also volunteered to be a part of it. As more feedback
comes in we will keep everyone posted.
All good things,
Pavi
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Christina
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 2:03 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Creating a Process for Creating Guidelines
Hi, Pavi.
This guideline shapers group is a wonderful idea.
I'd like to be included on this team if that's possible.
Christina
----- Original Message -----
From: Pavi Mehta
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: carrie.k@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 4:26 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Creating a Process for Creating Guidelines
Hi All,
As you know the recent guidelines that went out on Page Numbering have
generated some understandable concern and confusion among the volunteers. Some
of you have written in to staff with detailed emails articulating those areas
of concern and where the guidelines appear more inconvenient than helpful.
Others have expressed their opinions on the list. Carrie and I have had several
discussions recently on how best to address these concerns and modify the
guidelines so that they serve as a tool and not a hindrance. As hands-on
volunteers all of your input is valuable and we want the guidelines to reflect
the best practices and collective wisdom of the volunteer community.
Regarding page numbers Carrie will send out a note shortly to clarify some
of the areas of confusion and concern and explain how the guidelines for this
will be implemented. Bottom line is that we do understand the wide variety of
challenges volunteers face with including page numbers in books, and we're glad
to have had your feedback. We intend hereon for this guideline to be
implemented with a large degree of flexibility - and will be rewriting the
guidelines to clearly reflect the difference between page number requirements
for educational books and other submissions.
Moving forward though, for us one of the overarching questions that the
Page Number issue brings up is:
What is the most efficient and effective way for Bookshare to do the
following:
1. Identify volunteer areas that need guidelines
2. Draft guidelines and have them reviewed by a small pool of
volunteers(in a sort of beta phase)
3. Finalize and share these guidelines among the greater volunteer
community
Ideally, Carrie and I feel that volunteers should have a leading and more
transparent role to play in steps 1 and 2 above.
Here is a suggested approach, that it would be great to get your input on:
1. Form a self-selected team of "Bookshare Guideline Shapers" (we can
think of a better name down the line- smile). The Guideline Shapers are
Bookshare volunteers who step forward to help identify, draft and sound out
missing guidelines. Even if something is brought to staff attention regarding a
missing guideline, we would turn it over initially to this group with our
suggestions if any.
2. The Guideline Shapers would decide on areas that need guidelines,
work on an initial draft of these guidelines and then send them over to
Carrie/me for review from the Bookshare staff perspective. The Guideline
Shapers would go over any edits from us and come up with a revised guideline.
They would then solicit feedback on the guideline from the volunteer list
before making any final tweaks to it.
3. Once the guideline has been finalized, I will incorporate it in
the Volunteer Manual, and ensure that it is announced on the volunteer blog as
well as on the volunteer discussion list. (We will create a separate section of
the manual for Updates to the Manual so that it is easy for people to keep up
with the changes).
Participation from the volunteer community while shaping policy, we feel is
key and we think this approach could be a really invigorating way of
facilitating the creation of useful guidelines from the inside-out. Of course
we would be more than glad to help with the logistics of setting up a group
alias and other etcs for Guideline Shapers, and to provide assistance wherever
we can. We would love your feedback on this approach as well as to know if any
of you are interested in being part of such a team.
Warm regards,
Pavi & Carrie
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
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