Absolutely! I may gripe about the lack of annotation, and will continue to do so, but I truly appreciate the increase in both quality and quanity of books available. When I remember the seventies, eighties and even the nineties, I am amazed. While I believe in competition, I think that it would be a very destructive approach in this case. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Estelnalissi" <airadil@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: 2008/12/11 08:52:38 Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Missing Annotations > > > Dear Peter and Booksharian Friends, > > Peter, stick around for a while and watch Bookshare evolve and I can assure > you it will. > > In the two and a half years I've been a subscriber and volunteer the quality > of incoming books has steadily improved. It's astounding how much more > accurate scanning hard and software has become and how accomplished are the > volunteers. > > For the most part, I validate. As a lifetime braille reader, retired teacher > of the visually impaired and a spare-time line and continuity editor,, I > proofread books word by word from my first days as a validator. As careful > and pokey as I was, I was a newbie with a lot to learn. It was on the job > training with volunteers on the lists for my teachers. Fortunately, we > always have newcomers who make mistakes as we all did at first, but who > will, with practice and support, become competent, productive, contributors > which insures that the volunteer community will remain strong and > innovative. > > Bookshare has raised its standards. It allows volunteers to use their > initiative resulting in auxiliary resources like Jakes list of tips, Monica > W4's contest to reward submittors and validators, Cindy R4's daily lists of > new books added, books being scanned and the wish list and Pat Price's > Friends of Bookshare site with its chat rooms and book clubs. Bookshare > gives its volunteers a positive environment in which to improve. It also > encourages us to remove books with errors and replace them with finer > copies. > > The books I pick up are scanned by volunteers whose work is so pristine I > can't imagine well paid employees doing any better. My own ability to > utilize Microsoft Word and Kurzweil has been honed so well that though my > list of elements to check, in addition to word by word proofreading, has > grown, my speed is faster. The feedback I get from subscribers who download > my books and read them in braille and auditorially reassures me they are > accurate and highly readable. > > It's true some of the braille translation tools need to be more > sophisticated, but Bookshare's steeply inclined technical development curve > is a reliable indicator that the tools will get better along with everything > else Bookshare has undertaken. > > Remember, Bookshare is a nonprofit organization which gives its subscribers > more books than anyone could afford to buy or would be allowed to borrow > from any library. Where else are members invited to wish for and add any > book they like. Growing up as a blind reader, books were chosen for me. Now > if I or a cast of hundreds can get our hands on a book, it's ours and we do > the choosing. > > The name says it so simply and eloquently. Bookshare. We the readers, share > with each other and anyone who has trouble accessing print books. The > growing staff, generously supplemented by volunteers, has gathered a massive > collection of over 42,400 books. This couldn't have been accomplished by a > for profit business or even by a splendidly successful organization like > National Braille Press which relies on paid staff for all of its output. > > This isn't Bookbuy, it's Bookshare and it's thriving and maturing beyond our > wildest expectations. So, grab some books that float your boat and stick > around. > > Always with love, > > Lissi > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bob" <rwiley@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 11:22 PM > Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Missing Annotations > > > > We can complain as much as we want to, but that won't make us sighted. If > > it did, then some of us would be visionaries indeed. > > > > One thing I do if I find a really good book (or one that is really bad) is > > to write a review for that book. We can all do that and it may help the > > next person decide to give the book a chance. Another thing I do for books > > I really like is to write a blurb here on this list. Unfortunately, I > > haven't done that as much as I should have, but it's another way we can > > all help each other out. > > > > Peter, in the last paragraph of your message you bring up a good idea; > > namely, the possibility for a competitor to bookshare. I'm all for > > competition, but the competitors have a high bar to cross. > > > > Bookshare is quite inexpensive $25.00 per year and if you find $25 per > > year onerous you can volunteer and pay them with credits; it has a well > > established library (I don't remember the number of books, but it's more > > than I'll ever read); and it has a wonderful crew of volunteers. > > > > However, if there are competitors, bring 'em on and I'll join them too. > > > > Bob > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 1:39 PM > > Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Missing Annotations > > > > > >> Good afternoon again, > >> > >> I believe we're all missing something here. Every time a sighted > >> person > >> wishes to obtain information about a particular book are they being > >> forced > >> to Google the title? I don't think so. Now should we put up with being > >> forced to doing so when the information exists which could be placed on > >> the > >> listing page for busy members to obtain an idea of a book's content and > >> purpose? Some of us are very busy and don't have time to Google our lives > >> away; not when you have several Web clients jumping your gate concerning > >> their site's content. If Bookshare.org and its members fail to address > >> this > >> and other issues related to the content of its holdings perhaps a little > >> competition would cause them to do something about it. > >> > >> Peter Donahue > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Elfqueen" <elfqueen@xxxxxxxxxxxx> > >> To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 12:48 PM > >> Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Missing Annotations > >> > >> > >> Maybe there's a reason why they're restricted. If a book doesn't have a > >> satisfactory synopsis, it's not difficult at all to google the title and > >> get > >> as much info as you could want on it. > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >> To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 1:46 PM > >> Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Missing Annotations > >> > >> > >>> Good afternoon Cindy and listers, > >>> > >>> The character limit can be raised to accommodate a longer scinopsis. > >>> > >>> Peter Donahue > >>> > >>> ----- Original Message ----- > >>> From: "Cindy Rosenthal" <popularplace@xxxxxxxxx> > >>> To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >>> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 2:03 AM > >>> Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Missing Annotations > >>> > >>> > >>> As I said in my posteathe short synopsis is restricted > >>> to 250 inincharacters.* The synopses to which you refer, > >>> usually on the cover flap or the back cover of a book, > >>> are more than that and have to be edited. Plus, some > >>> books, especially paperbacks, and possibly the ebooks > >>> donatged by the publishers--I have no idea about > >>> them--have no such synopses. (the word is spelled s y > >>> n o p s i s in the singular and s y n o p s e s in the > >>> plural form, btw. smile.) > >>> > >>> The publishers, as I think Bob said, don't so anything > >>> but send the books, I gather in ebook form, to > >>> bookshare. Designated personel prepare them for > >>> bookshare form. My solution to avoid upsetting people > >>> would be not to add them to the collection until the > >>> synopses are added, and I think I suggested this to > >>> Carrie to be passed on, but I don't remember. The PQ > >>> books added yesterday or the day before did have short > >>> synopses. > >>> > >>> There is no excuse for volunteer-processed books not > >>> having short synopses, and I think they all do now. > >>> There is a place on the submission form for both long > >>> and short synopses, and people have been told not to > >>> write in the short synopses space "See long synopsis." > >>> Upon occasion I've gone to the long synopsis and > >>> edited it to fit the short synopsis and added it to my > >>> list that I mail out (I don't think you receive it but > >>> if you want to, let me know. Since only 6 books were > >>> added today (Tuesday) I'll post the list at the end of > >>> this and you can see how it differs from the Browse > >>> New Books list, from which it's taken (. On one > >>> occasion all I had to do was take the first couple of > >>> lines; I don't know why neither the scanner nor the > >>> validator didn't do that. > >>> > >>> Cindy Ro > >>> > >>> 6 English-Language books, added to the collection Dec. > >>> 9 > >>> All Books are downloadable in BRF and Daisy unless > >>> otherwise stated; May include (or not) Adult-rated > >>> books. THIS LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE books only available > >>> to public K-12 schools and organizations in the United > >>> States for use with students with an IEP (NIMAC) > >>> > >>> Abbreviations Used: LJ= Library Journal2' SLJ=School > >>> Library Journal; PW=Publishers' Weekly; PD=Product > >>> Details--from Publisher; A=Amazon; BN=Barnes&Noble; > >>> K=Kirkus; BL = Booklist; CL=Children's Literature; > >>> CM=Child's Magazine; KL (KLIATT=BIMONTHLY magazine, > >>> publishes reviews of paperback books, hardcover > >>> fiction for adolescents, audiobooks, and educational > >>> software recommended for libraries and classrooms > >>> serving young adults V (VOYA) > >>> > >>> ininininininMy Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John > >>> Adams by Margaret A. Hogan (editor), C. James Taylor > >>> (editor) > >>> Quality: Excellent, almost no errors. > >>> Nonfiction > >>> Synopsis: Letters that were sent by Abigail and John > >>> Adams during their courtship, marriage (separation > >>> when John Adams was in Europe) and when they were > >>> apart in the States. Touching history brought into > >>> life. > >>> Copyright Date: 2007 > >>> > >>> ininininininThe Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by > >>> Annette Gordon-Reed > >>> Quality: Excellent, almost no errors. > >>> Nonfiction > >>> Synopsis: Not only a biography of Sally Hemings, who > >>> bore 7 children by Thomas Jefferson, this book details > >>> the extraordinary lives of her ancestors and > >>> descendants also. Winner of the National Book award. > >>> Copyright Date: 2008 > >>> > >>> ininininininA Country Christmas by Bonnie Lou Risby > >>> Quality: Excellent, almost no errors. > >>> Chlildrens/adult fiction > >>> Synopsis: It's such a hard year in the Ozarks even > >>> Santa's broke. A tornado, illness, and being teased > >>> and cheated can't keep Francy and her large family > >>> down. They use what they have in surprising ways to > >>> make a beautiful Christmas. Ages 6-9 and all ages. > >>> Copyright Date: 1996 > >>> > >>> ininininininMindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime > >>> Unit by John Douglas, Mark Olshaker > >>> Quality: Excellent, almost no errors. > >>> Nonfiction > >>> Synopsis: True stories of how some of the most > >>> notorious serial killers and rapist were tracked down. > >>> Learn how they think by understanding the way they > >>> think and reason. > >>> Copyright Date: 1995 > >>> > >>> ininininininThe Promise by Chaim Potok > >>> Quality: Excellent, almost no errors. > >>> Fiction > >>> Synopsis: The Promise is the sequel to and continues > >>> the story begun in The Chosen > >>> Copyright Date: 1969 > >>> > >>> ininininininHalo: The Cole Protocol by Tobias S. Buckell > >>> Quality: Excellent, almost no errors. > >>> Science fiction > >>> Synopsis: In the first desperate days of the > >>> Human-Covenant War, the UNSC enacted the Cole Protocol > >>> to safeguard Earth and its inner colonies from > >>> discovery by a merciless alien foe. > >>> Copyright Date: 2008 > >>> > >>> ininininininWISH LIST (CALLED REQUESTED ADDITIONS TO THE > >>> BOOKSHARE COLLECTIONGGIS AVAILABLE AT > >>> http://www.friendsofbookshare.org/ > >>> www.lljfm.net/bookshare/home.htm > >>> > >>> A LIST OF BOOKS CURRENTLY BEING SCANNED IS AVAILABLE > >>> AT http://www.friendsofbookshare.org/ > >>> www.lljfm.net/bookshare/home.htm > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> --- Peter Donahue <pdonahue1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > >>> > >>>> Hello Cindy and listers, > >>>> > >>>> How many books have you read that contain a > >>>> scinopsis or a brief > >>>> annotation at the beginning. It's just a matter of a > >>>> volunteer or publisher > >>>> copying and pasting this information in to the > >>>> validate along with the other > >>>> data and it's done!! This whole business about this > >>>> requirement being too > >>>> time-consuming is nothing but first-class poppy cock > >>>> if you asked me! And > >>>> that also goes for Braille titles not being > >>>> proofread before they're posted. > >>>> My wife Mary over heard me writing this note and > >>>> said, "Amen!!" That's to be > >>>> expected from her since she's a Braille proofreader > >>>> at the Education Service > >>>> Center Region Twenty in San Antonio. If > >>>> Bookshare.org wants someone to > >>>> assist with proofreading their Braille titles they > >>>> need only give Mary's > >>>> boss a call. All the best. > >>>> > >>>> Peter Donahue > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> ----- Original Message ----- > >>>> From: "Cindy Rosenthal" <popularplace@xxxxxxxxx> > >>>> To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 4:40 AM > >>>> Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Missing Annotations > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> The PQ books have been put on the list by bookshare > >>>> staff--certain ones are assigned to this--and at a > >>>> later time they will fill in the synopses. They > >>>> aren't > >>>> validated by anyone. > >>>> > >>>> For a while Mayrie and I were suppling short > >>>> synopses > >>>> but it is very time-consuming--not as easy as it > >>>> sounds, Peter, because of the restriction of 250 > >>>> characters. I was very relieved to learn that they > >>>> would be supplied later and that I needn't bother > >>>> doing them. > >>>> > >>>> I think I did write and suggest that maybe it would > >>>> be > >>>> better not to post them until the synopses were > >>>> ready--but maybe I just thought about it. I did > >>>> notice, though, that the PQ books added to the > >>>> collection today all had short synopses, though not > >>>> perfect ones--not really synopses but something that > >>>> gave one an idea of what the book was about. > >>>> > >>>> Sometimes, when I know the book or have read about > >>>> it, > >>>> if I see a synopsis that is way off the mark, I've > >>>> rewritten it for my list and notified Carrie in case > >>>> they want to take what I wrote. > >>>> > >>>> As Bob said, anyone who had time can write one and > >>>> send it to Allison to be added--we aren't allowed to > >>>> just take what's posted on B&Not or Amazon because > >>>> that > >>>> is copyrighted, but we can use what is on the back > >>>> cover if it is up there. > >>>> > >>>> Cindy Ro > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> The problem > >>>> --- "Shelley L. Rhodes" <guidinggolden@xxxxxxxxx> > >>>> wrote: > >>>> > >>>> > Hi Peter and Bonnie and All. > >>>> > > >>>> > The fact of the matter is that no one writes the > >>>> > synopsis' for the publisher > >>>> > quality books. For a while volunteers were > >>>> mailing > >>>> > synopsis's to Alice > >>>> > hilliger and she was adding them, I believe she is > >>>> > still doing this. So if > >>>> > you see a book, do some research figure out what > >>>> it > >>>> > is, write a short and > >>>> > long synopsis and send it to Bookshare they will > >>>> add > >>>> > it to the database so > >>>> > the book has one. > >>>> > > >>>> > I know right now I don't have the time or energy > >>>> to > >>>> > devote to that project > >>>> > with the other projects I am doing. have way to > >>>> > much on my plate as it > >>>> > stands, and can't do that too. > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > Shelley L. Rhodes, M.A., VRT > >>>> > And Guinevere: Golden Lady Guide Dog > >>>> > guidinggolden@xxxxxxxxx > >>>> > Guide Dogs for the Blind > >>>> > Alumni Association > >>>> > www.guidedogs.com > >>>> > > >>>> > Though force can protect in emergency, only > >>>> justice, > >>>> > fairness, consideration > >>>> > and cooperation can finally lead men to the dawn > >>>> of > >>>> > eternal peace. comDwight > >>>> > D. Eisenhower, U.S. general and 34th president > >>>> > (1890-1969) > >>>> > > >>>> > ----- Original Message ----- > >>>> > From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >>>> > To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > >>>> > Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 6:37 PM > >>>> > Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Missing Annotations > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > > Hello everyone, > >>>> > > > >>>> > > For some time I have been greatly troubled by > >>>> > the number of > >>>> > > publisher-quality titles posted to the "Browse > >>>> New > >>>> > Books" area of the site > >>>> > > with missing annotations or book summaries. Its > >>>> > this brief scinopsis that > >>>> > > often determines whether I feel a book is worth > >>>> a > >>>> > read or not. I've had > >>>> > > previous communications with the folks at > >>>> Benetek > >>>> > concerning this matter > >>>> > > and > >>>> > > received a less than satisfactory answer. This > >>>> > problem should be caught > >>>> > > during the validation process and corrected > >>>> before > >>>> > a book is posted for > >>>> > > membership access. For God sakes it doesn't take > >>>> a > >>>> > week to extract a book > >>>> > > annotation and paste it in to the appropriate > >>>> > validation field. If I'm > >>>> > > going > >>>> > > to pay a subscription to this service I expect > >>>> to > >>>> > have access that will > >>>> > > enable me to choose whether to download and read > >>>> a > >>>> > particular book or not > >>>> > > and I'm sure there are others of you who feel > >>>> the > >>>> > same way. > >>>> > > > >>>> > > When asked what particular titles were > >>>> missing > >>>> > a scinopsis I explained > >>>> > > that there are way too many for me to list. For > >>>> a > >>>> > while an effort was made > >>>> > > to include book annotations in the listings, but > >>>> > the number of titles > >>>> > > which > >>>> > > don't include them is on the rise again > >>>> including > >>>> > a missing scinopsis to a > >>>> > > book entitled, "Raising Hell" by Ronin Ro. > >>>> > > > >>>> > > I would again urge the folks at Benetech to > >>>> > remedy this problem and > >>>> > > would appreciate the battle joined to ensure > >>>> that > >>>> > this solution is put in > >>>> > > place. It shouldn't be too much to ask a book > >>>> > publisher to include an > >>>> > > annotation when they send files for inclusion in > >>>> > the collection. Now I'm > >>>> > > done ranting. Here's hoping 2009 will bring with > >>>> > it a solution to this > >>>> > > problem and more ways for us to find information > >>>> > about particular titles > >>>> > > quickly and easily. > >>>> > > > >>>> > > Peter Donahue > >>>> > > > >>>> > > > >>>> > > > >>>> > > "Given a chance to dream it can be done > >>>> > > The promise of tomorrow is real. > >>>> > > Children of Spaceship Earth the future belongs > >>>> to > >>>> > us all." > >>>> > > Flying for Me, > >>>> > > John Denver > >>>> > > > >>>> > > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank > >>>> Email > >>>> > to > >>>> > > bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > >>>> > > Put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the > >>>> > Subject line. To get a list > >>>> > > of available commands, put the word 'help' by > >>>> > itself in the subject line. > >>>> > > > >>>> > > >>>> > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank Email > >>>> to > >>>> > > >>>> > bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > >>>> > Put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the > >>>> > Subject line. To get a list of available > >>>> commands, > >>>> > put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. > >>>> > > >>>> > > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> WISH LIST (CALLED REQUESTED ADDITIONS TO THE > >>>> BOOKSHARE COLLECTIONGGIS > >>>> AVAILABLE AT > >>>> > >>> http://www.friendsofbookshare.org/wish_list/wish_list.htm > >>>> www.lljfm.net/bookshare/home.htm > >>>> > >>>> A LIST OF BOOKS CURRENTLY BEING SCANNED IS AVAILABLE > >>>> AT > >>>> http://www.friendsofbookshare.org/ > >>>> www.lljfm.net/bookshare/home.htm > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank Email to > >>>> bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > >>>> Put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the > >>>> Subject line. To get a list > >>>> of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself > >>>> in the subject line. > >>>> > >>>> To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank Email to > >>>> > >>>> bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > >>>> Put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the > >>>> Subject line. To get a list of available commands, > >>>> put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. > >>>> > >>>> > >>> > >>> > >>> WISH LIST (CALLED REQUESTED ADDITIONS TO THE BOOKSHARE COLLECTIONGGIS > >>> AVAILABLE AT > >>> http://www.friendsofbookshare.org/wish_list/wish_list.htm > >>> www.lljfm.net/bookshare/home.htm > >>> > >>> A LIST OF BOOKS CURRENTLY BEING SCANNED IS AVAILABLE AT > >>> http://www.friendsofbookshare.org/ > >>> www.lljfm.net/bookshare/home.htm > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank Email to > >>> bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > >>> Put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the Subject line. To get a > >>> list > >>> of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject > >>> line. > >>> > >>> To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank Email to > >>> bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > >>> Put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the Subject line. To get a > >>> list > >>> of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject > >>> line. > >>> > >> > >> To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank Email to > >> bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > >> Put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the Subject line. To get a list > >> of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. > >> > >> To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank Email to > >> bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > >> Put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the Subject line. To get a list > >> of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. > >> > >> > > > > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank Email to > > bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the Subject line. To get a list > > of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. > > > > > > To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank Email to > bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the Subject line. To get a list of > available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line. To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank Email to bookshare-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the Subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.