[bksvol-discuss] Re: Speaking of synopses..?

  • From: "Christina" <greensleeves1@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 19:34:05 -0500

Hello.
To whom do we send info on books that aren't Publisher Quality such as synopses and series titles?
Thanks.
Christina

----- Original Message ----- From: "Pavi Mehta" <pavim@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 7:12 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Speaking of synopses..?


Fair question E.
I should have provided more of an explanation of our process in my
earlier email, My apologies.

We now have a new methodology for sourcing synopses that involves using
an online database called Bowker. For a fee, Bowker provides book
metadata and makes it possible for us to pull down the information we
need, including synopses automatically for all our PQ books. As you can
imagine this helps increase the speed and efficiency with which PQ books
enter the collection. Currently the tricky part is the fact when PQ
books enter the collection the synopses sourced from Bowker have to each
be uploaded individually by a staff member. We are hoping to be able to
automate this with the new site, and our turnaround times for this will
only get quicker in the future. The duplication of effort comes in if a
volunteer writes up a synopsis for a book that we have already sourced
from Bowker (which thankfully has not happened).

In terms of integrating volunteers into Bookshare's work beyond the
scanning and validation realm, that is something that I am more than
happy to discuss further with you or any other volunteers who have
specific ideas. My email records indicate that we did not turn down your
offer E. but responded that we would indeed keep you in mind if an
opportunity for staffing a Bookshare table came up near your area in
Manhattan. From my discussions with senior staff members here, I
understand that Bookshare actually has worked with member volunteers in
a number of different ways over the years -- including site development
and other engineering related roles. Regarding the bibliography
question, I don't quite understand what it is you are suggesting and
look forward to clarifying my understanding with you offline.

Perhaps what this thread indicates is that we -- or more specifically I
-- do indeed need to do a better job of communicating to the volunteer
community all the different ways in which you contribute to the work.
Thank you E. for taking the time to draw attention to the issue -- and
for your thoughtful follow up mail explaining where you are coming from
with all of this. The new site roll out is fast approaching and demands
a lot of our attention at Bookshare, but I'd like to make explicit to
the list,  that I'm always willing to listen to ideas any of you may
have for contributing beyond the call of scanning & validation. And I
genuinely hope to facilitate such contributions as we move forward
together.

All good things,

Pavi Mehta
Volunteer Coordinator, Bookshare

Benetech
480 S. California Ave., Suite 201
Palo Alto, CA 94306-1609 USA
Phone:  +1 650 644-3459

pavim@xxxxxxxxxxxx

www.benetech.org

The Benetech Initiative - Technology Serving Humanity
A Nonprofit Organization







-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of E.
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 1:45 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Speaking of synopses..?

What goes on with bookshare that they have such a hard time putting
in place an efficient system for using the large pool of volunteers
at their disposal?

Using them for book descriptions is one possibility.

Using us volunteers for other tasks has been pretty thoroughly
discouraged for the six years I have been with bookshare. No use of
programmers. No use of people to put together bibliographies on
various subjects. No use of volunteers to go to schools and colleges
to talk about bookshare.
I have volunteered to go to schools, staff booths at exhibits, write
bibliographies. Always I have been turned down.

The last trade show I went to had a empty bookshare booth. I would
have been happy to volunteer to staff it. No use of volunteers for
that either apparently.

What complex procedures need to be put in place for using volunteers
when you are so short staffed that the work keeps piling up?

Elizabeth


At 04:31 PM 11/6/2008, you wrote:
Hi All,

In terms of what to do when you encounter a PQ book in the
collection that is missing a synopsis here is the current process
we'd like to set in place for this:
PQ files are being added to the collection on a regular basis and
the staff is working hard to have synopses attached to every book as
soon as possible. Because of various complications there is
sometimes a slight delay in synopsis entry. If it is a new book in
the collection though, it should have a synopses in by the end of a
week. If you notice a PQ book that is not on the new books page and
that is lacking a synopses please send me an email with the title of
the book and we will make sure to work on it.

Down the line we would like to explore having volunteers help with
these synopses, but for the moment definitely want to avoid
duplication of effort. Once our processes are established and there
is an efficient system in place for soliciting volunteer-written
synopses we will be sure to let you know.

Warm regards,

Pavi Mehta
Volunteer Coordinator, Bookshare

Benetech
480 S. California Ave., Suite 201
Palo Alto, CA 94306-1609 USA
Phone:  +1 650 644-3459

pavim@xxxxxxxxxxxx

www.benetech.org

The Benetech Initiative - Technology Serving Humanity
A Nonprofit Organization







-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of My Nickels
Worth
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 1:18 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Speaking of synopses..?

Oh, cool-thanks!

Caitlyn


-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of E.
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 3:37 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Speaking of synopses..?


There is absolutely something you can do. You can send them to Alison
who will post them. She used to be in charge of updating book
descriptions. If that fails, try sending them to Pavi and perhaps she
can forward them to the correct person.

E.
At 03:10 PM 11/6/2008, you wrote:
>Is there anything we can do for publisher quality books which lack a
>synopsis?  Lots of times, I've read down the list of new books, for
>example, and there are quite a few which have absolutely nothing
>written as a synopsis, just the copyright date..
>
>What can we do, if anything?
>
>Caitlyn
>
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