[bksvol-discuss] Re: please more submits so I can proof read

  • From: "Denise Wagner" <denisecwagner@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:53:15 -0400

Mayrie,
You are right on target! I, speaking as a newbie, have no idea what needs to be done to these proofs. I can recognize a typo when I see one, and I'm fairly certain most books don't have ^%&* characters in them, but I didn't know that the Emdash was a problem! I didn't know this because no one told me (until I asked Bob...then he told me:-)) and because I'm sighted and a dash is in the book and a dash is in the rtf, then it looks good to me! Now I know to look and fix those.

I wish there was a checklist of sorts for the proofreader to look for. I've asked on the list here, and I've asked others what they look for, but I have no idea what the braille and daisy programs look for and how the rtf needs to be formatted to make sure there's an excellent copy submitted to the collection.

I'm depending on the proofreader of my scans to know this stuff, and I'm kinda winging it when I proofread -- but I definitely prefer to read every word! And, let's not forget, the people who aren't being careful and submit the proof in a hurry without reading are robbing someone else of the chance to proof that book and give it the dedication it deserves.

So, for the record, if anyone proofs one of my scans, or reads one of my proofs, please do not hesitate to offer me constructive criticism! I welcome it, beg for it, because I believe a job that's worth doing is worth doing well .

Oh, guess I should put my soapbox back in the closet and get back to my books!!

Denise

----- Original Message ----- From: "Mayrie ReNae" <mayrierenae@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 3:24 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: please more submits so I can proof read


Hi Natasha,

Unfortunately, I can sympathize with you completely.  The people who
proofread in this fashion aren't proofreading at all.  I have a hard time
believing that Bookshare is as concerned about excellent quality as the
organization claims to be. All that would have to happen is for the
volunteer manual to specify that a proofreader actually read the book that
he/she checks out.  Or at least require a spell check. And if all
proofreaders were required to be on the volunteer list they would learn
about the many issues that the volunteer manual doesn't address such as
protecting chapter headings that are all too often lost because volunteers
don't know that this needs to be done. There arises here the question of why the volunteer manual doesn't mention these things. No answer has ever been
given to this question.

Many volunteers are not on the e-mail lists.  They have no way of
knowing what havoc incomplete knowledge and lazy proofreading cause. I have a hard time holding people responsible for what they don't know. But you'd think that telling people that they are proofreaders should imply that they
should be reading books in order to provide the best quality books.
Unfortunately, a book that is "readable" is acceptable to many people.  I
don't believe that we should have to, or need to settle for readable any
more.

I know that I'm preaching to the choir here.  It's kind of pointless
to tell people who are doing a thorough job that people need to do a
thorough job. That can too often result in hurt feelings.  So, all of you
who read, I'm not talking about you. It's those who don't that frustrate me
and many others.

Mayrie



-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Natasha Baebler
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 12:01 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: please more submits so I can proof read

The two books i submitted earlier today have already been accepted into the
collection! *shakes head*  Both books were over 300 pages and were checked
in, in the case of one, less than an hour after I submitted it.

*sigh* I try guys, really I do. This is the kind of situation that makes me
wish books couldn't  be checked in the same day they're checked out.

*sigh*

I hope they're ok...

Natasha and Guide Dog Fossey
Check out my books on Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/profile/guidingpaws

"Footsteps in the snow
suggest where you have been,
Point where you are going,
But where they suddenly vanish,
Never dismiss the possibility of flight."
 ~Book of Night With Moon, ch. 11, V. 3
    ~ as quoted in A Wizard Alone, by Diane Duane

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