[bksvol-discuss] Re: Redoing the Bookshare Website
- From: "Kim Friedman" <kimfri11@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:57:05 -0700
Hi, Judy, I like those suggestions, especially from my point of view, I
wouldn't like to release a book or reject it sans commentary. It helps
to know why a thing is done. Also, as a person who tends to fall asleep
reading manuals, being able to download it and have updates as well as
frequently asked questions sounds like a great idea. There ought to be a
one-stop place where one can find all those little tips and tricks
volunteers use to bring the book quality up to snuff whether the
volunteer is a submitter or proofreader. I admire anyone who is really
good at organizing things. I can't say I'm like that myself and I must
confess that extremely organized and perfectionist folks can be hard to
live with if one isn't as picky. Regards, Kim Friedman.
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Judy s.
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 3:02 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Madeleine Linares
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Redoing the Bookshare Website
Off the top of my head...
1. Top priority: Fix the volunteer manual (which I know Mayrie is doing)
so that it is clear, and easily navigated. It's essential that it can be
downloaded and searched in its entirety all at once. Currently it's
intimidating, poorly laid out and nearly impossible to use as a new
volunteer right now, which new volunteers often post when they join this
list. Even as an experienced volunteer you can't find things in it.
2. The volunteer manual can't cover everything. It's too intimidating
for a new volunteer. So make up a searchable FAQ or database or Wiki or
whatever that all volunteers can go to and search for answers. I made up
a FAQ as a possible starting point for Scott based on thousands of
postings, and he loved it but then it got dropped for whatever reason.
We have huge expertise in the volunteer community and it's getting lost
and wasted by not preserving that knowledge and making it available.
3. Fix the "who is safe who isn't" publishers list so it's obvious where
it is, not buried, and accessible easily to volunteers, not buried
somewhere that you have to ask all the time where to find it, and make
sure it gets updated at least once a month.
4. Put an updates page on the volunteer website that documents (and
keeps a history of) when things change, by date--the way software
developers do for versions of their software. That way we can check and
know that when we proof or scan if something's changed in the way we're
supposed to handle things, like footnotes or ellipses or whatever.
5. Fix the books checked out page as we've been promised now for years
would happen so that you can release a book and put comments in so that
anyone who looks to check out a book knows why it was released.
Whew. That's it for now. smile.
Judy s.
On 3/29/2012 1:45 PM, Madeleine Linares wrote:
Hi all,
One of our big projects is redoing the Volunteer section of the
Bookshare website and I would love your input! As some of you may have
noticed, it's a bit out of date and confusing. Here are just a few
questions I came up with that I thought might have especially helpful
answers. Feel free to answer one question, all, or add other comments
if you feel so inclined. Please note that this is NOT a discussion about
the Volunteer Manual. We are currently working on that and will ask for
your feedback as soon as we have made more progress on it.
What information would be helpful for new volunteers that is currently
missing or hard to find?
What do you think of the current layout of the "Volunteer Overview" page
as compared to the "Community Overview" page? Is it easier to find what
you're looking for? More difficult?
What do you like least about the Volunteer section of the website?
What do you like most or find most helpful?
Is there anything that currently is not on the website but should be?
For those who use other tools to read the website (such as Screen
Readers): what are your thoughts? Is the "Volunteer Overview" page any
different from the pages on the Bookshare website?
Your feedback is very much appreciated, as, of course, is your time and
effort in the volunteering process. Thanks for everything!
Best,
Madeleine Linares
Volunteer Coordinator
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