[bksvol-discuss] Re: NLS vs. Bookshare
- From: "Jill O'Connell" <jillocon@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 09:47:30 -0700
Jamie, How does your friend read books from Bookshare? To convert these books
into hard copy braille, one would have to have a braille embosser and in most
cases the amount of paper needed to do this would be staggering. In my case I
download Bookshare books to my BrailleNote, a laptop type computer with a
braille display. I do the same with NLS books using their web site called web
braille. The main difference between the two is that NLS pays to have the books
they select done by one of the commercial presses producing braille books and
they are basically flawless. However, because money is involved, only about 600
braille books are produced each year. As you know, Bookshare on the other hand
is dependent on volunteers to produce the books and there can be a great
variation in quality. NLS is free and though it does take time for books to go
through the mail, one can curl up with one and enjoy it. In my case, I quickly
adapted to "curling up" with my BrailleNote and have no reason to ever return
to braille books through the mail. I hope this has answered your questions; ask
on if it hasn't. Jill 1
----- Original Message -----
From: Jamie Yates
To: Bookshare Volunteers
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 6:41 AM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] NLS vs. Bookshare
My friend sent this to me and asked me to ask opinions of the Bookshare
volunteers. You can email me privately if you wish offlist at
jamieyates@xxxxxxxxxxx
My feeling is that for $50 a year for pretty much unlimited books, Bookshare
does a very valuable service. I don't know and understand completely how NLS
works but from helping her with some problems I spent a long time on hold with
the Cleveland library trying to sort out her NLS account (she doesn't have a
Braille tty set up right now) and they were very helpful but it takes time to
get a physical book in the mail. With Bookshare the access is instant. As a
sighted person, I'm almost jealous! I have to drive 10 miles to the library to
get the books I want. and then I can only keep them for 3 weeks. So I think
Bookshare is pretty great and I tell people about it all of the time.
Anyway here is what she is asking:
Jamie,
This is from on of my DB friends. I thought you could share with the Bookshare
Volunteer list and send me any good things they have to say. (and your
feelings
too)
a debate going on about Bookshare and National
Library Service which should be providing braille readers with ANY braille
book
they wish to read free of charge. One member said she knew of others who could
not afford to pay the $50 annual fee for Bookshare, and neither could she.
Another said that she'd like to be able to curl up in a chair and read a
brailled book. She's not sure how to download a book and convert it into
braille.
I don't know anything about how to do this. I was wondering if you could
give your view on Bookshare vs NLS and what the advantages or disadvantages
are.
Why isn't the NLS doing what Bookshare is doing?
Jamie in Michigan
Currently reading: Ceremony in Death - J.D. Robb
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