[bksvol-discuss] Re: please remember
- From: "Pratik Patel" <pratikp1@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 01:54:02 -0400
Monica,
Your concerns are certainly valid and appropriate. By telling people that
Bookshare is not required to tell all information, I was responding to some
very specific, technical questions that have been raised in the past few
weeks. This is the type of information that is not typically disclosed by
any organization--partly for competitive purposes, partly for the ability to
maintain internal deadlines. Many of us, who have been with bookshare ever
since its early existence, understand that Bookshare has always needed to
make fundamental, infrastructure changes and has needed the type of
expertise in its staff that would allow Bookshare to grow in the future and
take advantage of technologies and opportunities to make the organization
even more helpful to the disability community. The staff that Bookshare has
hired in the past 9 months is extremely able to make the kind of changes
that users and volunteers will like. But, before these changes can be made
and results can be perceived, Bookshare must systematically examine its
current underlying structure and begin to prepare for the possibilities.
This is all the more important because, as users and volunteers, we all want
to make sure that Bookshare has a solid plan to grow and a solid ability to
not make fundamental mistakes that may come back to haunt the organization.
This work must be done very carefully and painsteakingly. And, that takes
time.
We have already seen some examples of dedication and improvements this year.
Six months ago, you would have waited a long time for the volunteer page and
parts of the web site to load at a snale's pace. That is no longer the
case. Bookshare has been able to acquire grants and resources for the New
York Times best seller's additions. The response time for those who write
to support@xxxxxxxxxxxxx has decreased dramatically and now the organization
provides excellent support to its members who request it. This is all due
to some of the staffing changes that we have seen recently.
In other words, work is being done even if it is not perceived as being
work. Much of this work may be technical in nature that mentioning it on
lists would promptly put people to sleep and raise even more questions. We
have to ask ourselves whether we are better off with Bookshare staff
answering questions that would slow down the work that they need to do or
whether we should have our curious inquiries checked for some time to await
some results. Of course, if it's the former, I can well imagine this group
coming back sometime next year and say that Bookshare hasn't delivered on
their promises.
As slow as it might be, know that changes are coming. I am sure that
Bookshare will certainly continue to receive feedback and respond to bugs
and feature requests.
HTH.
Pratik
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Monica Willyard
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 10:30 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: please remember
Shelley and Jim, I agree with you that we have great access to
books. By attempting to resolve problems, I do not discount what has
already been achieved. The thing that concerns me is that since we
don't know what the problems are, we can't take steps to fix
them. Because of how things seem on the outside, we really don't
know the size, scope, or nature of the internal problems. I don't
want to wake up 3 years down the road to see a notice saying that the
Bookshare service has failed due to problems that could have been
solved. I had this happen to me with another service I was part of,
and I want to prevent that from happening here. Pratik is right that
Bookshare is not required to share their plans or priorities with
us. Required implies force and legal issues to me. In the absence
of tangible information, there is a void that can give root to doubts
and concerns over time. Is that right? Probably not. Is it
human? I would say yes. People often fill in gaps in information
with explanations of what they can detect with their own five
senses. Whether we voice those concerns or keep them to ourselves,
they are present and impact our conduct in the community. Bookshare,
both its staff and members, have built something awesome and
worthwhile. I don't want to diminish that in any way. What I do
want is to know if the ground we're on is fairly solid or if it's
shaky or made of sand that could wash away with even a tiny amount of
rain. I also want to know what activity on my part is the most
important in safeguarding Bookshare's future.
Monica Willyard
At Monday 10/23/2006 11:01 PM, you wrote:
>here here Jim, smile.
>
>And I have seen improvements over those four years too, smile.
>
>Actually as a member of a National Board, in my case at GDB, it is quite
>true, what goes on "internally" is not at all what goes on externally. And
>what is projected through literature externally.
>
>I do hope Gustavo is feeling good, and not sick in any way.
>
>smile.
>
>Same could be said for the blindness professions as Pratik has already
>eluded to. what a consumer sees as a lack of interest in their case may be
>in reality a lack of funding, lack of personnel, lack of transportation, or
>usually a combination of all three, smile.
>
>
>Shelley L. Rhodes B.S. Ed, CTVI
>and Judson, guiding golden
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