[bksvol-discuss] Re: gaps in the collection
- From: "Lynn I" <lynnskyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:14:50 -0600
Monica,
I agree with you. Anyone with a reading disability should be able to benefit
from what Bookshare has to offer. I view Bookshare as a library and it
should have offerings for all users. *smile*
Blessings.
Lynn I
----- Original Message -----
From: "Monica Willyard" <rhyami@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 4:06 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: gaps in the collection
Hi Elizabeth. I hear your concern and know you want to make sure Bookshare
uses its resources wisely. That's one of the things that I appreciate about
you. You are frugal and don't want resources to be wasted. I think adding
certain types of books over time is an investment in our future rather than
just a drain on resources. I also know it's a mental and emotional stretch
to see Bookshare move from a primarily blind organization to a group of
people with various disabilities of which blindness is just one. We're not
used to that yet, and many of us remember how badly things went with RFB&D.
So as you read my note, will you please consider what I'm saying and think
about how we can learn from our past and do something better this time?
I think the needs of sighted people have to be considered because they make
up the majority of people with a print disability. Soon they will outnumber
blind users. I have two goals in mind here. I want sighted readers to find
books they need for things just like we blind people can. Their need for
accessible books is just as great as ours. Sighted people who use services
like Bookshare and NLS tend to be more quiet about it, using services as a
tool rather than a community. That means you won't see most of them chatting
on this list. Nevertheless, they are a significant portion of our
population, and their needs, goals, and interests are just as valid as
those held by blind users. When they pay for their membership, they should
have just as much service and selection as blind users get.
Second, I want to head off a war of ideas and priorities between our blind
and sighted users by making allies, not opponents. if we insist that
Bookshare use its resources based on who is able to use a book, we could
set up a dynamic down the road where sighted users could say they object to
money spent on books about blindness because it's not relevant to the
majority of users. As I see it, the only fair way to do things is to pay
attention to everyone's needs and fill gaps in the collection as if
Bookshare is a fully functioning library. Then people can freely choose what
they wish to read. Btw, I'll read books about all of the subjects I brought
up including defensive driving since I have a teenager in my home.
I believe it's our job as volunteers to advocate for the needs of all
members, even if we don't like some of the books that result from it. Just
as we champion the needs of people with varying faiths or political
persuasions, I think we have to consider the needs of users who can see.
Otherwise, we risk discriminating against them as others have discriminated
against us.
Finally, in the interest of full disclosure, I have two sighted family
members who are eligible for Bookshare and are learning to use it. They have
severe learning disabilities, and one of them is now able to read for the
first time at age 63. Some sighted people get teased because they can't read
and until recently got little support in school. Their disabilities are just
as painful, confusing, and frustrating as blindness, and I think the social
stigma is just as intense in most respects. We are more alike than
different, and we can make a great team if we work together.
Monica Willyard
"The best way to predict the future is to create it." -- Peter Drucker
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of E.
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 3:20 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: gaps in the collection
Given bookshare's limited resources, it may be wise to include books
of use by as many people as possible first and then go on to books
which can only be used by sighted folks later.
E.
At 03:04 PM 2/23/2009, you wrote:
>Hi Carrie. Since Bookshare serves sighted people, I see some gaps
>others may not have mentioned. Books about defensive driving, car
>maintenance, beauty/fashion, bird watching, scrapbooking, and home
>decorating and remodeling are missing from Bookshare. We also don't
>have many books about flower arranging, varieties of flowers and
>plants, and landscaping. Many of our books about houseplants and
>gardening are rated fair and are hard to read. They aren't visible
>to new members by default. In fact, our "Home and Garden" category
>is fairly anemic, especially since around half of the 181 books are
>Shelley's series of children's books about animals that are
>"nature's children." If you watch TV, networks like TLC, A&E, Style,
>and HGTV are full of shows about decorating, remodeling, and
>restoring houses or about planting lovely gardens and landscaping
>with designs that flatter the style of a home.
>
>So far, Bookshare's collection doesn't reflect these types of
>interests. I haven't figured out if this lack of content is due to
>lack of interest from submitters or if the material is difficult to
>scan. It could be a combination of both. I do know that sighted
>people read books on these subjects and think they will expect to
>see books about these topics in the collection.
>
>Monica Willyard
>"The best way to predict the future is to create it." -- Peter Drucker
>
>
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