It's true. I've seen several books with no long synopsis at all. It will say either n/a or none. Sometimes, it just repeats the short synopsis, which isn't very helpful. It's very hard to decide whether or not to read a book, when there is a lack of description. Solstice Singer Are you a fan of Women's music? If so, join me each Wednesday evening from 7 until 10 eastern for The Eclectic Collection: a Celebration of Women In Music. http://mojoradio.us:9090 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nancy Martin" <nancyam@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 3:30 PM Subject: [bksvol-discuss] e: book synopses and volunteer poll Hi all, Yes, I've noticed some synopses aren't very informative. If members don't know what a book is about, they won't want to read them. I think I'd need to read the entire book to write a good synopsis. Spot reading goes against my "be thorough" mentality. But that's just me. I filled out the survey and made whatever suggestions I thought would help. be blessed, Nancy Martin > ----- Original Message ----- >From: "Estelnalissi" <airadil@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >Date sent: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:42:55 -0400 >Subject: [bksvol-discuss] book synopses and volunteer poll >Dear Jill and Booksharian Friends, >Jill, I agree with your observation that synopses are sadly neglected, >underwritten and uninformative. In the survey I suggested that another task >volunteers could take on to assist Bookshare is to replace inadequate >synopses with thoughtfully written ones. This includes short synopses which >consist of the first 50 words of the dust jacket information which often >don't give an overall summation of the book and even cut off in midsentence. >The volunteer might not need to read the entire book, but should spot read >and do enough research to write from knowledge, not copying Amazon or other >reviews which isn't allowed anyway. >I made several other suggestions and raved about the many things I love >about Bookshare, too. >It was disappointing to hear that fewer than ten per cent of volunteers on >this list filled out the survey. The problems I had with it, which were just >like those Lori Castner noticed, have been corrected. With Windows XP and >JAWS 10, the survey was easy to read and fill out. >A few months ago I missed a survey because I procrastinated. I've been >kicking myself ever since. Now there's a new survey and I hopped to it to >make my experiences and ideas known. I hope more of you will take this >opportunity to communicate your impressions of what works and isn't working >so well from your perspective as volunteers. This is our chance to talk to >the staff. I'm so glad they are asking and are listening. Let's not waste >this chance. >Always with love, >Lissi >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Jill O'Connell" <jillocon@xxxxxxxxxxx >To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 1:48 AM >Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Currently scanning >> Has anyone seen Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons in the >> collection? I entered this in the search box the other day and it took me >> to other books by this author but not the one I had sought. I read this >> book in braille a few years ago but may have obtained it from Web Braille. >> While I am on this subject, I think most of the comments that are showing >> up about the books are abysmal. They are obviously pieced from original >> synopses or something, often including an advertising about the book or >> author, marginally helpful in my opinion. > To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to >bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >put 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@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 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@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 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.