There is a fifth reason for scanning everything that we can get our hands on including NLS titles. For those of us who have vision problems but are not blind, we can read large print but often with difficulty. By being able to see the print and hear it at the same time either by using screen readers or software like Kurzweil, we can use both our audio and visual senses at the same time. As you know, people with vision disabilities including blindness often have difficulty spelling. However, by being able to see the word in print or feel it in Braille and also hear it, spelling problems decrease. This is especially important for children who are learning to read, spell, etc. Also, for people who have learning disabilities such as Dyslexia, often using two senses helps them to process information more effectively and thus increases their compentency in reading comprehension which is important in both the academic and professional worlds. Barbara "Shelley L. Rhodes" <juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: And they have sub contracted their braille transcriber course, smile, to NFB Shelley L. Rhodes M.A., VRT, CTVI and Guinevere, Golden lady Guide juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc. Graduate Alumni Association Board www.guidedogs.com More than Any other time, When i hold a beloved book in my hand, my limitations fall from me, my spirit is free. - Helen Keller ----- Original Message ----- From: "maithe007" To: Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 1:19 AM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Duplicating NLS Titles Jill, I have a friend that works for them and he says that their jobs are on the line. I don't know if the reasons are because of bad management, less people are reading, other technologies are taking over, but it is a fact that they are all worried about their jobs. I know that they were planning on transferring their books into a CD format...don't know what happened to that. Either way, I do think it is a good idea to have these books in all available forms. I sometimes like to read on my computer and at other times, I prefer to listen to a book on tape. When I scan, I listen to a book on tape. When I clean, I listen to these books on tape. So, both technologies will hopefully continue to progress. There is a major problem at NLS and we need to protect ourselves. We need to scan all books available...just in case. Maithe ----- Original Message ----- From: Jill O'Connell To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 12:55 AM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Duplicating NLS Titles I think your number 4 statement is unfair and inaccurate. ----- Original Message ----- From: Monica Willyard To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 8:46 PM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Duplicating NLS Titles Hi. I can think of 4 compelling reasons to scan books that are currently available on cassette from NLS. In order of importance to me, they are: 1. NLS has said they're going to retire cassettes within a few years and do not plan to convert most of those titles to digital format. So they will be completely inaccessible in just a few years. 2013 is the year they're planning to begin this process. Does anyone remember what happened when they retired the great books on records? You still can't get over half of those older books anywhere now. 2. Cassettes are bulky and break easily. They are not really a great medium for books to begin with and are a hassle for people who like to read on the go. You can't easily search them for information you want or need, and you can't make bookmarks at your favorite passages while still being able to move around in the book. 3. Our deaf/blind and some of our learning disabled membership can't use audio and need material in Braille. 4. NLS has been grossly mismanaging their funding. Frankly, I think it's possible that they will be shut down if they don't shape up. Then we'd end up having to scan those books anyway, and we'd be reacting in a sort of panic. I'd rather have books in both places so if we lose one, we still have the other and aren't stranded. Monica Willyard Evan Reese wrote: I don't think that it is true that we frown on duplicate books. Personally, I don't think it should matter. I'm validating two books now that are part of the NLS collection, and very well recorded at that. There are many here who, for one reason or another, such as being deaf-blind or hard of hearing, can't access most of NLS's collection - since most of it is on tape. So whether a book is available from NLS should not be a factor in deciding whether to scan it for Bookshare. If it isn't in the collection, and it does not violate the legalities, then it is fair game. I also like Nero Wolfe, but when other commitments will allow me the time to scan any is something I'll have to look at. One thing in their favor is that most of them are not very long books, so they should be fairly quick scans. Evan ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 9:46 AM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Nero Wolf Was found 8 new Agatha Christie books! Hi, I know we frown on duplicate books and that NLS has a good deal of Nero Wolf audio books, but I know of hardly any braille ones, which makes me wonder how extensive our collection of Nero Wolf books is? That said, if anyone ever wants to scan them let me know and I'll validate. Thanks. Jim James D Homme, Usability Engineering Highmark Inc. james.homme@xxxxxxxxxxxx 412-544-1810 "It's more important for me to start to do the right thing than it is to wait until I think I can do it just right." 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