[bksvol-discuss] Re: Volunteering for Bookshare
- From: "Lori Castner" <loralee.castner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 12:03:45 -0700
Bob, My first two career choices when I received my Masters degree some
thirty-odd years ago were to be a librarian or an editor. I applied a number
of places hoping to prove that I could edit with an optacon, but no go. I
could certainly do that sort of work today, but now do it as a volunteer for
bookshare; finally I'm an editor. Still need to work on the librarian thing
though.
Lori
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 11:18 AM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Volunteering for Bookshare
Well said Lori.
I hope this thread will be a place for folks to tell their volunteering story.
I joined bookshare about a year and a half ago. Before that I was an avid
anti bookshare spokes person. I objected to the fact that bookshare charged for
their services, and also to the fact that it's library wasn't totally available
to international readers. But I got desperate for something to read, plus a
friend of mine told me I didn't know what I was talking about since I had never
been a bookshare member. So, I thought, I'll try it for a year then go back to
criticizing it with my own experiences to rely on. Unfortunately, I love to
read and got hooked on the books. So, about three months after I joined I
decided to look into volunteering to help defray the annual cost.
I don't scan because of arthritis in my hands, but part of my last job before
I retired was editing documents. I found I enjoyed the detail involved in
editing, and, validating is just editing by another name.
Anyway, since I started volunteering, I've come to love it. I would validate
even if we didn't get credits for it. Don't get any big ideas bookshare staff!
I now validate mainly books that I like to read, rather than just taking on
all comers. I take pride in doing a thorough job, and have only had one book
rejected. It was my first book, and being inexperienced, I messed up the
pagination something terrible. Thanks Carry for rejecting that long forgotten
book. I'd hate to think it was lingering on the site with my mistakes as part
of it.
Anyway, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
Oh yes, lest I forget, I am now a convert to bookshare and apologize for all
my unwarranted criticisms.
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: Lori Castner
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 12:48 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Volunteering for Bookshare
Hi, Folks,
Recent discussions on this list have caused me to think a lot about why I
volunteer for Bookshare.
However, without considering these discussions, i.e., whether volunteering
will continue change or be the same in the future, I want to share my own
experience here for those who might be interested.
A year and a half ago, I purchased my husband Mike a membership to
Bookshare because he was becoming bored with books from NLS. Although we have
a friend who validates books for Bookshare, that activity seemed very abstract
to me, and I simply wanted to get Mike a source of new books. He had been
looking for a volunteer activity in the community with little success, so he
began validating books and absolutely loved the activity.
Because of his enthusiasm, I purchased a bookshare membership to get books
to read, but primarily to validate books. And I enjoyed validating almost as
much as he did.
For us, bookshare is not so much a place to get reading material--although
I have read a fair number of books and have many as yet unread on my computer
and bookport and Mike has read very few books, but rather a way to give back, a
way to give to others. Sure, we can still scan books just for us to read, but
that process now seems incomplete, because Bookshare has provided a way for us
to share those books with others who would not find them through other sources.
Also, validating books so that they can become part of a larger collection and
be available for others to read is unexpressibly rewarding.
I used to knit items for three different charitable organizations, but
since developing arthritis in my thumbs I can no longer contribute very much in
that way. I also write poetry, but very few benefit from my poems at this
time. If we had not discovered the joy of volunteering for Bookshare, Mike
might still be looking for a gratifying volunteer activity, which for a blind
person can be as difficult as finding a fulfilling job. And, I might be
wondering how to give back to the world.
Sure, without volunteering for bookshare, we would have time to read more
books, but that is only partially rewarding and fulfilling. We might spend
more time with friends, but many of them work days and have most evenings
filled with family, errands, etc. But without the fulfillment of giving back
to others through volunteering for Bookshare, our lives would be less rich,
less fulfilled, and less meaningful.
I speak only for myself although I am sure I am sharing a common feeling.
Thanks! Bookshare!
Cat Lover Lori
P.S. and I would have more time to play with and pamper our cat who now
sits in our den and watches us contribute to the world!
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