Hello Reggie,I would agree with all of what Bob says below. I would add that it can be intimidating at first, especially if you try to absorb the manual in one gulp, to look at what needs to be done to do a good proofreading job. But like any other skill, you build your knowledge bit by bit. Take the books that are already excellent, and that do not require much in the way of formatting, then gradually build your knowledge of what to do to make them of the best quality. (You may be able to get some from people here on the list which need very little in the way of work to get them into excellent shape for the collection.) This list is your best resource. That's where I picked up most of what I need to know to scan and proofread. I did it gradually. My first submission, which got into the collection five years ago yesterday, had no page breaks, no font adjustments, and no header protection. (I think page breaks were required at the time, but I didn't know it, and whoever proofread the book didn't know or care, and it was approved as it was.) Over time, I learned why certain things were necessary, and how to do them. I didn't learn it all in a week, or even in a year. I'm still learning how to do a better job, five years on. Even the best scanners and proofreaders have had to learn new things over time as Bookshare's commitment to quality has increased; so even those whom you might think know everything need to add new knowledge as time goes on to meet higher quality standards. It may seem a pain sometimes, but it does benefit all readers, so it is ultimately to the good. It may seem like a huge mountain to climb if you look at it all at once, but day by day, bit by bit, you'll get there. As I often tell people who believe that they may not be able to learn something new: Nobody is born knowing how to talk, or walk, or type well for that matter. You just keep at it, making mistakes, knowing that you'll make mistakes, trying not to stress out too much while you build your knowledge and your confidence.
Don't make a hasty decision. Whatever you can do to help add to the collection, or to improve what is already there, will benefit future readers. They may never know, but you will, that you helped build the largest library of accessible books anywhere.
Evan----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob W" <rwiley45@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 12:08 PM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] despair was Re: Re: Problem submitting books
Hi Reggie.We all get down in the dumps at some point; that is completely understandable. But, I'd like to encourage you to hang in there for a while.There is always someone who is more technologically advanced than we are, and no one is born a techie. Many people have learned to be good proofreaders by asking questions, and asking more questions if the answers are not to their satisfaction.One of the things I like about volunteering for Bookshare is the fact they don't set a quota of books you have to proofread. You can proof one book a year or hundreds of books each year. It really doesn't matter.So, hang in there for a while and see how things go. Bob----- Original Message ----- From: "Regina Alvarado" <regina.alvarado6@xxxxxxxxx>To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 10:47 AM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Problem submitting booksI am beginning to despair. I admit I am not a good proofer and try to stayto books that I know are excellent scans. However, with the way the siteseems to work and the fact that more and more books are being placed in the collection by other means and all that is being expected from proofers andscanners, I just am not certain I want to continue. I love the idea of Bookshare, or what it was people helping people, but now for me it hasgotten just way, way too techy. I don't have Open Book or Kurzweil (cannotafford it nor will my state get it since I don't work for BKS) and Iabsolutely know virtually nothing about Word as I do not use it in email or in my regular work doing transcription (have a much easier program taught tome for that). I believe BKS has become mostly for sighted dyslexics, and that is fine if that is what Benetech wants, but I am feeling like I havebeen left behind as a volunteer. I want to volunteer and do a good job. I am just afraid I am being asked to work in a program and do things I don't understand. Question: With all the new things we must do (formatting and such), how does anyone validate with a Braillenote or Packmate or has thatgone the way of the dinnasaur too?Sorry if I sound depressed. I just went through a whole lot of illness inthe last year, and I was so, so glad to be feeling good again and looking forward to picking this bacvk up. I just do not think I am techy enough, and I am deeply saddened by this whole thing. I can get books to read onBard so I will not lack for reading, but I was really enjoying helping in my own very small way (compared to some of you) with this project. I have notdecided if I will continue to try yet, but it looks like I am lost toBookshare as of this moment and it brings me to tears. I do not even know once I follow Mary's instructions on fonts how to make it change just what I have highlighted. Off now before I do cry. I will make a decision in thenext couple of days, but right now I feel like a failure. Reggie -----Original Message----- From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Louise Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 8:11 PM To: Bookshare Volunteers Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Problem submitting booksI just tried submitting a couple of books and I couldn't get to the category screen. I was stuck both times on the screen where you put title, author,publisher, copyright information, synopses, etc. When I try going to thecategory screen, nothing happens. Any ideas as to what I'm doing wrong oris it a problem with Bookshare? Help! Thanks . To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxput the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list ofavailable commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signaturedatabase 5800 (20110119) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxput the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxput the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.
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