Hi all,
Roger is right. Our outsourcers proofread.
The interns have left, unfortunately, so they aren't able to do any in-office
scanning. That being said, I'm going to try to recruit some volunteers to scan
in our offices if at all possible.
Best,
Madeleine
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Roger Loran Bailey
Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2015 1:03 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Going Going Gone?
Madeleine or another Bookshare staffer can correct me if I am wrong about this,
but I don't think the outsourcers actually scan any books.
The impression I get is that the books are scanned in house and then are
outsourced for proofreading.
On 10/31/2015 1:45 PM, Lori Castner (Redacted sender loralee.castner for
DMARC) wrote:
Dear Lissi and everyone else,
I read all the messages generated by Lissi’s comments before writing
this response.
Before stating my thoughts about why we have so few scanners, I want
to make one suggestion.
Would it be possible for “outsourcers” to scan books for volunteers
to proofread?
We have heard about Bookshare having volunteer interns work at the
headquarters; can they scan books for volunteers to proofread?
Mike and I have been proofreading and/or (in my case) submitting
books) since 2007. And we have seen many changes.
I believe that there is one main reason why we now have so few
scanners. It is very hard to see hours of hard work replaced by PQ
books. Mike and I have experienced this replacement several times and in
large quantities.
Mike, Evan and I worked very hard to get a series (The Preacher’s
Commentaries) into the collection. Mike and I purchased the 35 books
for the collection; Evan scanned most of them; I scanned a few; and
Mike and I proofread them all—every word. On the day Mike checked in
the last book we discovered that Thomas Nelson had submitted hundreds
of books including all
35 of our books. Our books, for some reason, were not removed but
duplicated. Even though our submissions are still in the collection
it was hard to see the duplications.
Then we began to work with another scanner to add books by Warren
Weirsby to the collection. We had purchased and added to the
collection about ten of his books and then one day all his books were
added to the collection, something our scanner called a “bitter sweet”
discovery. Again, our work was duplicated. This morning while looking
through books I had scanned and submitted I found another duplication,
and that was a book I had to scan twice to get it right.
When PQ books began to be added to the collection, at least two people
who scanned large numbers of books quit because as one said, “I felt
the rug was pulled out from under me.”
Why spend hours of time to have your work replaced or duplicated? And
submitting older books is no guarantee that your work will remain in
the collection. The Preachers’ commentary series were copyrighted in
the 1980s and until we added the last book to the collection, Thomas
Nelson was not submitting PQ books.
Several people have said that it is worth their time to scan or
proofread books even if they are replaced, because for a short time
the books they submit have been available. That is a valid view, but I
find it hard to see my work gone or duplicated.
That being said, I am so grateful for PQ books and for Bookshare’s
huge collection. Time after time I hear of a new book, one published
in the last few weeks, and there it is on Bookshare for me to download and
read!
I’m glad to learn that some electronic books have page numbers added,
and I’m also thankful for the formatting of volunteer submissions.
Also I love to proofread and have no issue with the formatting requirements.
I do not enjoy scanning, and personally think scanners should earn
more credits than proofreaders. I have scanned 27 books for the
collection but just get no enjoyment from the process other than being
able to read books that interest me.
Like Lissi, I lament the disappearance of a “community” on the
Bookshare email lists. When Mike and I joined Bookshare, we learned
information about individuals, shared some happenings in our lives,
and were part of a caring group. Because restrictions were placed on
what could be included on the lists, community has faded. There were
reasons for these restrictions, but they did impact individuals
getting to know one another. Possibly, this lessening of community has
reduced the number of volunteers. Who can tell?
Also, like Lissi, I worry about the small number of books on the
checkout list. I am thankful to have worked with some great
submitters: Evan, Larry, Sandy, Misha, Mike M., and Marilyn and to
have proofread word for word so many interesting, informative or
enjoyable books. I believe my efforts and Mike’s efforts have made a
difference. Volunteering for Bookshare has certainly enriched our
lives. We will volunteer as long as books are available, but can see
the day when the lessening availability of books to proofread will make our
volunteer hours fewer and fewer.
Thanks for allowing me to share my views.
Lori C.
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Estelnalissi
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2015 3:08 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Going Going Gone?
Dear Booksharian Friends,
Is anyone as worried as I am about the state of the check out page?
Only 2 of the books there are available to anyone and the other 9 have holds.
The scanners we have are working hard and many of them have dedicated
their time for years scanning for people they don’t know with their
only motivation being to enrich the Bookshare library. I’m not asking
that the regulars take on the responsibility for this disaster. I’m
asking if anyone knows anyone they can inspire to Take up this important
volunteer work.
I try and help by searching out books that aren’t in the collection,
buying them as cheaply as possible and mailing them to people I know
will scan them. I also buy the books that have holds for me and make
the scanner’s life easier by mailing them the books to scan and by
being satisfied with the work they do and not demanding that they be
perfect or follow my personal rules beyond Bookshare’s requirement. If
a scanned book is perfect, and they never are, then what would be the
value of proofreaders? It takes careful scrutiny to find and correct errors
in well scanned books.
If we proofreaders can’t help by recruiting scanners or providing them
with books we can help by not racing to grab every available book and
checking it in lightning speed but by taking time during this crisis
working on no more than a couple of books at a time leaving other
books available for other careful proofreaders who are showing like
consideration.
This isn’t any one person’s fault. The scarcity of scanners seems to
be at the core of the problem, that and the fact we have to work
harder now to find books that aren’t already in our fabulous Bookshare.
A somewhat exhausted scanner friend of mine said something pretty
funny but true.
Remember the TV show Beretta. He said:
If you don’t want to do the time,
Don’t do the crime.
The Bookshare version is:
If you don’t take the time to look,
Please don’t check out the book.
I suggest that we proofreaders be generous and actually read the books
we’re promising to tidy up by the act of checking them out.
How many people are still around who remember that we used to
broadcast far and wide, that we were deranged perfectionists? The list is so
quiet now.
Nobody blows their own horn but enthusiasm and sharing accomplishments
isn’t bragging. I think it’s inspiring! Volunteers that are new here
might not have heard how we shared our journey toward improving our
skills. I’ve been doing this nonstop except for computer trouble and
illness for about ten years and I’m still reading every word of the
books I proofread. When I suspect my mind’s wandered I go back and
read some pages just to be sure I didn’t drowse and miss something. I
know there are plenty of proofreaders here who do the same, but how can they
with no books to check out?
I’d also be interested to know if anyone who is new is learning to
proofread to earn credits for their membership. If so, how can they
with no books to check out? If anyone is rushing through books to get
credits in time to renew their membership I have plenty of credits I’d
be glad to share so you can relax and take your time getting to know
how to proofread carefully. And remember this list is a source of
understanding and help. There are scanners and proofreaders just
waiting for a chance to answer questions from newcomers who will gain skill
and help newercomers in turn.
Oh, and we enjoyed welcoming new volunteers and celebrating their
accomplishments, so chime in and tell us you’ve arrived.
I didn’t mean to preach or wave my arms and stomp around on my soap
box. I was just shocked to see the check out down to 2 books. It’s
like seeing a loved one bleed to death.
Hoping to hear some ideas, thoughts, interest, concern etc from anyone.
It is what it is,
But it will become what you make it.
Always with love,
Lissi
