[bksvol-discuss] Re: suggestion - show the validator
- From: "Estelnalissi" <airadil@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:07:21 -0400
Dear Tracy and Booksharian Friends,
As others have mentioned, the percentages are often misleading, because the
book contains foreign languages dialects and invented words, as in books
with English spelling, fantasies, historic fiction, Science Fiction, etc. It
would be unfortunate if a reader overlooked a book which was extremely
accurate because they saw a low percentage given to the book by the tools
which didn't recognize the spellings of these unusual words.
When I validate books like these, I notice the percentage is lower than it
should be though the book may still be rated excellent. I try to include
specific comments when I upload explaining how it might be that the book is
far more accurate than it's percentage. I even give examples of specific
words like Welsh, Spanish, Elvish, and slang words.
The percentages are even more depressed in children's books Because they are
so short. I validated several books about Junie B. Jones who is in
kindergarten and then first grade. The author tries to imitate the way
children her age mispronounce words. Though I check special spellings with
extreme care, you couldn't tell it by the percentages those books have.
So, though they can sometimes give you an idea of a book's accuracy,
percentages can also cause you to skip a well prepared book.
One other way to help the ratings match the quality of books is to send a
note to the staff when you see a book that doesn't match it's rating. I've
found Good books that were excellent and excellent books that were, to my
mind, worse than fair. On rare occasions, if I feel strongly about an
indiscrepency, I've sent requests for ratings to be adjusted.
Always with love,
Lissi
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tracy Carcione" <carcione@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 8:21 AM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] suggestion - show the validator
I would like to see the validator listed on books, along with the
submitter.
First, I'm proud of my work, and have no objection to having my name
attached to it. People who want their names hidden could still be that old
Bookshare Volunteer.
Second, different validators do differing amounts of work on a book. The
book I'm reading now is rated excellent, and mostly is, but it's obvious
whoever validated it didn't so much as bother to spellcheck. Though they
apparently stripped headers, which I do appreciate.
Anyway, seeing the validator name might give the experienced Booksharian
an idea of the quality that might be expected inside a book.
I've also often wondered if it would be helpful to display the percentage
that we see when we're asked to rate the book. You know, 99.76% accuracy,
which suggests excellent quality.
There is a wide variation in excellence.
Tracy
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