[bksvol-discuss] Re: Missing out on best sellers, was November New York Times bestsellers

  • From: Carrie Karnos <ckarnos@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 12:55:02 -0800 (PST)

Hi Sue,

Actually as of 2 weeks ago, I became a Bookshare employee.  But up until then, 
you're right, I was a volunteer, and processed the bestsellers AS A FAVOR to 
Bookshare.  I was not required to validate any book I didn't want to.

And now, as an employee, I still believe I don't have to validate any book I 
don't want to. Lisa may have a different opinion, but she hasn't told me about 
it.

I have several responses to Chris' email.
1. Adding bestsellers is not solely my responsibility.  7 of the October 
bestsellers were already being processed by the time I ordered them, so I 
deferred to the other people who were working on them.  I did not tell them to 
stop working on their books, I did not say I would override their submissions.  
I'm glad they're working on the books, since I had 35 other ones to do!
2. I take strong exception to your statement that I am denying access to the 
Coulter book.  Neither I not Claire nor Gustavo nor any other administrator has 
ever EVER rejected a book solely based on its content.  Books that have been 
rejected are either missing a title page, missing the copyright notice, missing 
page numbers, etc.
3. Occasionally there's a bestseller that hits the top 10, sits there for a 
week or two, and drops back down.  I think it's at my discretion as to whether 
I will process it or not.  Sometimes I include the book, sometimes I don't.  
Anybody though is welcome to process the book and submit it.  And no I don't 
remember which ones they were.

Chris, virtually every book in the collection was submitted by a volunteer.  
That's the reason we have such a rag-tag collection.  No one is required to 
work on any book, it's all voluntary!  This is Bookshare's greatest strength 
(and its greatest weakness, if you know what I mean).  Embrace it!  Revel in 
it!  If you want to read the Coulter, process it, Claire will approve it, and 
it'll go into the collection.  I skipped the book in November, I'll include it 
in the December batch if it's not in by then, as I've already said.

Stepping off her soapbox, Carrie


----- Original Message ----
From: siss52 <siss52@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, November 4, 2007 12:21:44 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Missing out on best sellers, was November New 
York Times bestsellers


Hi Chris,

Carrie's services to bookshare are totally as a volunteer.  She is an 
in-house volunteer, but still a volunteer.

Hope that helps,

Sue S.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Feist" <ccfeist@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2007 1:24 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Missing out on best sellers, was November New
 York 
Times bestsellers


Hi again, Carrie.

I'm sympathetic to your feelings.  However, since I'm a new  kid on the
block--to both Bookshare and to validating books--I would appreciate
 some
clarification on who is in charge of certain tasks.

My understanding is that it's Bookshare's goal to provide us with the
 top 10
from the New York Times Best Sellers list, regardless of the author and
 its
content.  This is certainly a noble endeavor which I applaud.

With that in mind, what I'm confused about is this.  Have you
 volunteered
your own time to selectively scan and validate best sellers, therefore
 what
gets added is understandably at your own discretion?  Or conversely, is
adding best sellers a vital part of your job description with
 Bookshare?

If it's the former, than I can only say thank you for doing as much
 scanning
and validating as you do, which seems to be a lot.

However, if it's the latter, and as a result books you personally find
objectionable are delayed or left out of the collection completely,
 then by
not fulfilling an obligation means many Bookshare members are not
 reaping
the full benefits of membership.  I hope you can see my dilemma here.

With all due respect, if adding the best sellers falls solely into your
 area
of responsibility, then if you cannot bring yourself to do it, can you
perhaps pass along the job of adding best sellers you don't care for to
another party??  Then the titles you don't personally wish to handle
 would
be available to the rest of us in a reasonable time frame.

Again, since I'm so new, I don't know whose responsibilities are whose,
 and
whether what you do is totally voluntary or compulsory due to a job
position.  Either way, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect all of
 the
New York Times Best Sellers to be available to patrons.  As a member, I
 paid
a decent amount of money to join Bookshare so to have access to books
 just
like the one which was denied addition to the collection.

As I mentioned, I'm sensitive to the fact that you find some books
distressing.  However, as proof of how many people actually enjoy
 reading
her books--whether they be sighted, blind, or anything else--I point to
Coulter's position on the New York Times Best Sellers list as
 confirmation
that there is high demand for her material.

Thank you, and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Chris Feist - The one and only!


-----Original Message-----
On Behalf Of Carrie Karnos

I can't validate the Coulter book.  My blood pressure just goes too
 high
when I read her opinions. If someone else wants to process it, feel
 free!

Carrie


----- Original Message ----
From: Chris Feist <ccfeist@xxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Scott.  Thanks for letting me know.  That's good to hear.  the only
 one
missing now is Ann Coulter's latest.  I really want to read that one.

I'm really glad I recently joined Bookshare.  Thank goodness that even
though I'm blind, I can have access to so many wonderful books.

Chris Feist - The one and only!

 To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to
bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line.  To get a
 list of 
available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.


 To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to
bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line.  To get a
 list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject
 line.






__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com

Other related posts:

  1. Home
  2. bksvol-discuss
  3. Archive
  4. 11-2007