Thanks so much for writing that message Shelley. I really didn't feel like writing such a message myself. Downloading web braille books can be mildly annoying, but it isn't torture or anything, and in case no one has discovered it, a lot of programs have append features that would allow you to make those web braille volumes in to one big file. The NLS site has a way better search than bookshare besides. I wish bookshare's collection could be searched from NLS as the RFB&D catalogue can be. Maybe it wouldn't help though, because the search might not have the info it needed to do a good job with bookshare books. If anyone needs some suggestions for making the web braille experience better, write me off list, and maybe I can help. Both bookshare and web braille have their advantages. Sarah Van Oosterwijck http://home.earthlink.net/~netentity/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shelley L. Rhodes" <juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 1:27 PM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: bookshare and web braille > There are many things at hand in this issue. > > 1. Bookshare is scanned books, submitted by members. Web Braille is > "embossible" ready files prepared with tax dollars by the U.S. Library of > Congress. > 2. Bookshare can expand and create titles which NLS can't, as well, we > aren't governmentally funded Any radical thinking from Iranian authors > anyone. > > 3. Bookshare doesn't accept files from other ebook publishers. This I > suspect is a moral issue, and I hate to say it but I have to agree. > Especially if their members can't join Bookshare. And they have spent money > and time in preparing those pristine volumes and they get stolen and > submitted for people to view. If I was a company that this was happening > to, I would be pissed. And the "paster" would indeed get credit for work > they did not do. > > 4. The size of Web Braille Files are the size they are because they are > intended to be embossible. If you print that file on an interpoint embosser > you will get the same size volume as the real Braille edition you would > borrow. > > I have to shudder to think the size of some of Bookshare's files if we did > that. > > Just my views, but I like "separate but equal" in this situation. As Mike > puts it these are two entirely different beasts. And to add to this, why > not "list remotely" all the files produced and books sold by the American > Printing House. That would make our collection look tiny and a bit > intimidated, but it would add to the size of the collection and if people > wanted they could purchase the books, course you need quota funds or a > wealthy aunt to do it. > > smile. > > I think that partnering with smaller companies is a better way to go. > > National Braille press and American Foundation for the Blind offer quite a > bit of remote book listings. > > > > Shelley L. Rhodes and Judson, guiding golden > juddysbuddy@xxxxxxxxxxxx > Guide Dogs For the Blind Inc. > Graduate Advisory Council > www.guidedogs.com > > The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to > stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs. > > -- Vance Havner > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Gisela Vazquez" <gvazquez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 2:00 PM > Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: bookshare and web braille > > > Like I said, no one would get credit for it because they aren't personal > scans, but they would still be more books on the Bookshare site > > i agree. I hate downloading a bunch of files just to read one book. I think > it has to do with copyright law. It would be nice though. I gues we can't > have it all! > > Gisela > > Gisela Vazquez > > MSW > > "Progress comes from the intelligent use of experience". > > > >