Originally, I hadn't planned to comment to this thread, but Anne's message
about submitters and proofers forming partnerships has inspired me.
There are a couple of proofreaders that I work very closely with, and I
have
found this to be a very rewarding practice. My books are well taken care
of,
and I don't have to worry about them, once they're submitted. Sadly, this
isn't the case with all proofers, so I consider myself blessed to have
found
the ones I currently work with.
The time limit being placed on holds may impact my ability to continue to
work as much with the proofreaders of my choice. This is very unfortunate,
and may impact the amount of submitting I do in the future. I have had
very
negative experiences with proofreaders from the general pool, and so, am
reluctant to submit books without holds.
I certainly understand the need for books not to be held for months and
years, but two weeks is an unreasonably short length of time. Hopefully,
bookshare staff will take the feelings of both submitters and proofers
into
account, and change what promises to be a very detrimental policy.
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Ann Parsons" <akp@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 10:08 AM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] the story of a proofer
Morning, all,
I'd like to tell you the story of a proofer. This proofer has been
working with one submitter for the past year in making a series of
books available to Bookshare. The idea behind the "Hold For' is that a
submitter can work with a given proofer in a partnership in order to
make sure that books are submitted in the best way possible. Ideally,
the submitter is able to keep the original copy of the book so that the
proofer can check any errors which occur.
Unfortunately, with this particular proofer, students, concerts,
Christmas shopping and various other impediments have prevented her
from completing the current book she has and starting on the remaining
books in this series.
Sometimes ideals just can't be realized. However, one thing which is
not being talked about at all, is the relationship between submitter
and proofer. This, I feel, is a significant factor. If there is an
active pair working together, time should not be a factor. I agree
that it should be between the submitter and the proofer as to how long
a proof may take. During the time the pair is working together,
friendships may blossom. Other books may be comtemplated. Indeed, if
the period of proofing is shortened unduly, you may find that proofers
cannot keep up and they will become discouraged.
I suppose the fact that one may keep renewing books is good because it
does indeed remind proofers that they must work diligently. However, I
believe that a two week limit on 'hold for' books is too short.
Optimum would be two months. After that, they should be removed. I
would urge the Powers That Be to remember that proofers are volunteers.
If we were not, one might expect faster work because that would be our
job, but volunteers have to work as an avocation, not as a vocation.
Now, I'm off to Bookshare to download all the books that are on hold
for me, so I can finish off the series I started over a year ago.
Ann P.
--
Ann K. Parsons
Portal Tutoring
EMAIL: akp@xxxxxxxxxxxx
web site: http://www.portaltutoring.info
blog:
http://www.samobile.net/users/akp/blog
Skype: Putertutor
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost."
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