[bookshare-discuss] Re: Volunteering for Bookshare
- From: "Estelnalissi" <airadil@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2014 13:16:23 -0400
Dear Patti and Booksharian Friends,
This has been such a productive discussion. If it goes further we could switch
it to the list dedicated to volunteers helping volunteers deal with technical
issues. bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Patti,Do you still have the comments from staff that you got when your
proofread books were returned?
Regardless, I’ll be happy to help you off list. Contact me at
airadil@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Once you get past the details to correct and get some practice, your books will
begin to slide right into the collection and returned books will only be a
memory.
Oh, but any of us can slip up. A few months ago I had a book returned because I
dumped a book on to the checkout page that didn’t match my book in any way!!!
Since I had an assortment of nonbook files in the same folder, I’ve wondered
what unwelcome surprise I sent Bookshare instead of the book I proofread.
Actually it’s comforting knowing they are there to catch our oversights. Just
think if someone checked out a biography of Louisa May Alcott and got my file
of Duck Dynasty recipes? Whew!
Also, when proofreading with Word, you can switch on a function without
realizing it that can muck up your file. When the staff sends your book back,
you realize the problem and can tell Word to stop doing the disruptive thing.
For example, once my word automatically capitalized the first letter in every
single line of a file. It happened near the end of the book. I noticed and
fixed a few of the extra capitals not knowing that Word was putting them right
back in when I moved to the next line.
It’s all about experience. Each bump in the road makes the next stretch
smoother. Some books are challenges and some are pieces of cake. The challenges
are rewarding because at the end you’ve learned new tricks to make you a better
proofreader.
My proofreading rate hovers between 20 and 35 pages an hour depending on page
length, level of vocabulary, presence of technical terms, dialect and foreign
languages and accuracy of scan. Depending on the book and how much time I have
a proof can take between days and weeks. Evan scans rings around me in terms of
speed including the time he spends on careful clean up. These are just facts.
We each appreciate the other’s work.
Always with love,
Lissi
From: Patti Johnson
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2014 8:15 AM
To: bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Volunteering for Bookshare
Amen Sharon. I proofed for a while but after the last 2 books I proofed were
not accepted and I didn't understand why because I had done the same things as
I had with the books that were, I gave up.
I am just not patient enough, I guess.
And Scanning takes even longer.
I see enough errors and strange things with the publisher submitted books that
make me think that my mistakes weren't all that bad.
Just me.
Patti
On 4/13/2014 9:30 PM, Sharon wrote:
Yea, I’m the opposite. I’d much rather scan than proofread. Especially with
the new standards for proofreading.
I just don’t have the patience for it; I want to be scanning the next book.
Sharon
From: Kim Friedman [mailto:kimfri11@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2014 6:58 PM
To: bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Volunteering for Bookshare
Hi Bob, I remembered telling a friend of mine what I was proofreading and she
saying she’d go nuts if she tried to do that. I know there are people who are
comfortable doing both scanning files and proofreading but I find the prospect
of scanning intimidating, but proofreading I enjoyed, especially if I got to
read something I was interested in. I’d get to read the book before anyone else
at Bookshare did (I’m referring to fellow Booksharians and not to the admin.
Staff.) I haven’t analyzed what makes some people prefer Scanning files and
vice versa. I think there must be continuum of submitters who would rather do
anything rather than proofreading to those like me. Regards, Kim Friedman.
From: Bob W [mailto:rwiley45@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2014 3:21 PM
To: bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Re: Volunteering for Bookshare
Hi Christina.
Sounds like you would take volunteering seriously. Great! That's what they
need.
I haven't volunteered for about a year because of arthritis.
However, volunteering was one of the most challenging and interesting parts
of my bookshare experience.
You may find that different people consider certain hardware and software
essential. I used Kurzweil extensively in my proofreading, and would deem it
essential, but others might not.
Another thing I found essential was communication with the person doing the
scanning. I love good teamwork, and this fit right in perfectly.
However, beware of volunteering as a proofreader: it could become addictive.
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: Christine Szostak
To: bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2014 3:49 PM
Subject: [bookshare-discuss] Volunteering for Bookshare
Hi All,
I am considering volunteering for Bookshare and have a quick question. My
particular interest is in proof reading as I have done a fair amount of general
proofing for students, peers, and colleagues and love doing it!
As I am totally blind, I was curious if anyone here without any vision is
a proof reader and how you deal with things like making sure paging is
accurately matching the original hard-copy source and how you deal with things
like knowing that bolding needs to be added without looking visually at the
original source... I know how you check for these types of things with JAWS so
I would know how to check whether they are present or not, but what I do not
know is how to check whether they match the original text. Any advice or
suggestions would be much appreciated!
Have a wonderful week!
Chris
Christine M. Szostak, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology
Shorter University
Rome, Georgia
szostak.1@xxxxxxx
If you are interested in a professional consultation for a vision loss
related issue see:
http://findingthevision.wikidot.com
If you are in need of a professional consultation for general
research/statistical related issues see:
http://researchconsulting.wikidot.com
If you are looking for professional proof reading or editorial review
services see:
http://researchconsulting.wikidot.com
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