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

  • From: "robert tweedy" <roberttweedy@xxxxxxx>
  • To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 14:52:21 -0600

Carrie, you do a fine job and don't let anyone tell you different. If people 
want to do best sellers after number 6, they can. I think you do 1 through 6 on 
the fiction/nonfiction hard cover/paper back right? There are other best seller 
lists out there that people can choose from but if they do chose from those 
lists I would strongly suggest that the office and the list should be contacted 
because some of the books might be on the same lists. Any thoughts? Myself I 
like the way we are doing it now. 
Skype contact bobwichitaks phone 316-524-5454
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Carrie Karnos 
  To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2007 2:55 PM
  Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Missing out on best sellers, was November New 
York Times bestsellers


  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!

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