Your impression is wrong. I use Open Book myself, but you don't have to
use any OCR software if you don't want to. If you are sighted you can
just set the book down beside your keyboard and type a copy of the
entire book if you want to. The point is that you need to submit the
final product in RTF format however you get to that RTF format. And, no,
your scans do not have to be perfect. You really should preproof your
copy and get it as near perfect as you can, but if it had to be perfect
there would be no need for a proofreader other than the submitter before
the book is added to the Bookshare library. The goal is perfection, but
perfection is rarely achieved on the first trial. The proofreader is
there to make the slightly imperfect perfect and even then sometimes the
proofreader will miss something too.
On 10/31/2015 5:02 PM, tina sohl wrote:
Both my husband and i have the impression, due correct if it's wrong, I hope it is, that scans are only allowable through k 1 or 3,000 or something and that they must pretty much be perfect/. We're DocuScan+ users. It meets our needs well so if it's acceptable for scanning and they don't have to be perfect, I might like to do some scanning. Also, is it fine to check a book out from the public library and scan it? I don't know, so thought it best to ask. If what we have will do the job, DocuScan+ and an HP 4500 flatbed, I might think about it.
Original message:
I don't think the problem is jiffy proofers anymore. Madeleine is on the lookout for that. Just not too long ago she bounced back one of my scans with a note to the proofreader that it is not possible to proofread a 500 plus page book in twenty minutes. I am not sure that jiffy proofer was even reading her notes because he tried it three times before he gave up. The problem now seems to be that proofreaders outnumber submitters tremendously. They probably think it is easier. I started out as a proofreader because of that myself. Then I eventually realized that I did not have the proper equipment nor ability to do a proper job of proofreading. Notably, it is formatting that I have to avoid. Anymore I just leave that for the proofreader. That means that scanning and submitting is actually easier for me and that is almost all that I do anymore. But - sheesh! - I am only one person. I would think that the best solution is to talk to the proofreaders and try to talk some of them into scanning. How, though, do you talk to them? The large majority of them are not subscribed to either Bookshare list.
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
