I do some fairly obscure books myself, but I’m thinking that with over a
hundred thousand members, there are bound to be some people who would be
interested in them.
Also, there are still some fairly major publishers who aren’t donating to
Bookshare yet. There’s Tor in Science Fiction, and Scholastic in children’s
books, which is a publisher that I scan a fair bit of for Lissi to proofread.
Evan
From: Roger Loran Bailey (Redacted sender "rogerbailey81" for DMARC)
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2015 8:29 PM
To: bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Going, Going, Gone!
I think the abundance of PQ books may have something to do with it too. Pretty
much every major publisher is now submitting to Bookshare. If there is a major
publisher that still is not I can't think of what it is. That leaves mostly
indy and small presses for the volunteer submitters and I am not sure that most
of the volunteers are entirely aware of how to acquire those books. If they
were just lying around in library bookshelves or at yard sales in the
quantities that the major publisher books are they wouldn't be small presses,
would they? They are easy to find on line if you know what you are looking for,
but you do have to know what you are looking for so that you can type them into
search engines. Then, if you order them on line they might cost a bit too.
Amazon, for example, is absolutely full of one cent books, but once you add the
$3.99 shipping cost it comes to four dollars apiece. And a Paperback Swap
credit is not much cheaper than that. That is a lot more than the few pennies
that you can get books for at a library or yard sale, but you do not find many
indy books at library and yard sales. If your purpose in volunteering is to
defray the cost of a Bookshare subscription then that is self defeating. Also,
the vast majority of the books in the Bookshare collection are now PQ books.
Volunteer efforts have become a minor part of what Bookshare now offers. This
is just speculation, but if what is left for the volunteers is now the obscure
there might be volunteers who do not want to put in the work to add a book that
will get very little readership because no one will have ever heard of the book.
On 10/30/2015 6:53 PM, Estelnalissi wrote:
Dear Patti,
Hey, you’re a reader. You are the reason Bookshare exists. What you’re doing,
downloading and reading Bookshare’s books is what Bookshare is about.
The point of my message was that today, compared with the available books, we
have an overabundance of proofers with nothing to proofread. Can you believe
just 2 books for anyone to check out?
You’re right that more is asked of proofreaders. It has become a very
exacting job. It isn’t a great fit for everyone and I admire your integrity for
being honest and leaving it to people who thrive on splitting hairs, crossing
teez and dotting eyes. Volunteer books are getting closer and closer to
flawless because of the seemingly nit picky requirements.
Like you, I noticed that PQ books don’t have all the elements volunteers are
asked to include, but as a proofreader I’m proud that the books I help add are
usually easier for people to read because they have page numbers and say
chapter so people using braille displays can search more easily since they
don’t have daisy navigation.
Though many have disadvantages I appreciate the PQ books. This summer when
everyone was reading Lee Harper’s Book, Go Set A Watchman, I was reading it
too. It had no page numbers so I had no idea what part of the book I was in or
when to expect the ending. That inconvenience was offset by my enjoyment of
being able to read that book at all when it was a hot topic, and in braille, my
favorite way to read. Turns out, I think Lee’s sister should have left her
early unpublished book in hiding where the author put it. I’m afraid a lot of
money was made against the author’s wishes. That’s a whole nuther discussion. I
have more PQ and volunteer books I want to read than I have time.
I’m so glad you wrote, Patti. You helped me when my dog Popeye died and Evan
and I prepared the seven volume Emerald Ballad series you requested. It’s so
great that you’re still here paying attention and taking the trouble to speak
your mind.
Always with love,
Lissi
From: Patti Johnson
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2015 6:17 PM
To: bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Going, Going, Gone!
Hi. I stopped proofing a couple years ago when books that I proofed that
were already excellent, and that I proofed in the same way I had on books that
I had done and that were accepted, got rejected for reasons I thought just
downright ridiculous.
I just won't put in the time if it's going to be that difficult.
I've seen many excellent books come through that still had problems. I have
seen this in publisher books too. so the "rules" need to be lifted some, so as
not to make proofing so stringent and it seems folks so hard to please. I even
mentioned this in the recent bookshare survey.
Now I don't have Word on my desktop any more, so I can't proof even if I
wanted to, but that is why I stopped, and it may be just my one opinion about
it but it's mine nonetheless.
Hope new folk will get on board and help out, but I think I've done my time.
Patti
On 10/30/2015 6:07 PM, Estelnalissi wrote:
Dear Booksharian Friends,
Is anyone as worried as I am about the state of the check out page? Only 2
of the books there are available to anyone and the other 9 have holds.
The scanners we have are working hard and many of them have dedicated their
time for years scanning for people they don’t know with their only motivation
being to enrich the Bookshare library. I’m not asking that the regulars take on
the responsibility for this disaster. I’m asking if anyone knows anyone they
can inspire to Take up this important volunteer work.
I try and help by searching out books that aren’t in the collection, buying
them as cheaply as possible and mailing them to people I know will scan them. I
also buy the books that have holds for me and make the scanner’s life easier by
mailing them the books to scan and by being satisfied with the work they do and
not demanding that they be perfect or follow my personal rules beyond
Bookshare’s requirement. If a scanned book is perfect, and they never are,
then what would be the value of proofreaders? It takes careful scrutiny to find
and correct errors in well scanned books.
If we proofreaders can’t help by recruiting scanners or providing them with
books we can help by not racing to grab every available book and checking it in
lightning speed but by taking time during this crisis working on no more than a
couple of books at a time leaving other books available for other careful
proofreaders who are showing like consideration.
This isn’t any one person’s fault. The scarcity of scanners seems to be at
the core of the problem, that and the fact we have to work harder now to find
books that aren’t already in our fabulous Bookshare.
A somewhat exhausted scanner friend of mine said something pretty funny but
true.
Remember the TV show Beretta. He said:
If you don’t want to do the time,
Don’t do the crime.
The Bookshare version is:
If you don’t take the time to look,
Please don’t check out the book.
I suggest that we proofreaders be generous and actually read the books
we’re promising to tidy up by the act of checking them out.
How many people are still around who remember that we used to broadcast far
and wide, that we were deranged perfectionists? The list is so quiet now.
Nobody blows their own horn but enthusiasm and sharing accomplishments isn’t
bragging. I think it’s inspiring! Volunteers that are new here might not have
heard how we shared our journey toward improving our skills. I’ve been doing
this nonstop except for computer trouble and illness for about ten years and
I’m still reading every word of the books I proofread. When I suspect my mind’s
wandered I go back and read some pages just to be sure I didn’t drowse and miss
something. I know there are plenty of proofreaders here who do the same, but
how can they with no books to check out?
I’d also be interested to know if anyone who is new is learning to
proofread to earn credits for their membership. If so, how can they with no
books to check out? If anyone is rushing through books to get credits in time
to renew their membership I have plenty of credits I’d be glad to share so you
can relax and take your time getting to know how to proofread carefully. And
remember this list is a source of understanding and help. There are scanners
and proofreaders just waiting for a chance to answer questions from newcomers
who will gain skill and help newercomers in turn.
Oh, and we enjoyed welcoming new volunteers and celebrating their
accomplishments, so chime in and tell us you’ve arrived.
I didn’t mean to preach or wave my arms and stomp around on my soap box. I
was just shocked to see the check out down to 2 books. It’s like seeing a loved
one bleed to death.
Hoping to hear some ideas, thoughts, interest, concern etc from anyone.
It is what it is,
But it will become what you make it.
Always with love,
Lissi
