[bksvol-discuss] Re: Volunteering for Bookshare
- From: Rogerbailey81@xxxxxxx
- To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 15:23:32 EDT
Well, for what it's worth, I have been a Bookshare volunteer now for,
perhaps, a month. I had given the web site a cursory glance some time back, but
was
put off by the seventy-five dollar up front cost. Besides, my computer
skills are entirely self-taught and in my techno-ignorance I was unable to
quite
figure out how to use the site. Recently, though , I became frustrated with
RFB&D because my second digital talking book player broke. That is when I
decided to give Bookshare a serious look. I ended up registering and while I
was
waiting for my verification to clear I decided to do some validation. My
self-taught computer skills had increased enough to allow me to do that to a
certain point and the help I got here on the list allowed me to complete the
process. Now that I am doing it I find it fun. Also, I have been a lifelong
fanatic reader and a fanatic anything loves to share his fanaticism with
others. I
think that is part of the fanaticism. By the way, I have decided to stick with
RFB&D and the NLS too. In a message dated 8/9/2008 11:18:48 A.M. Pacific
Daylight Time, rwiley@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Well said Lori.
I hope this thread will be a place for folks to tell their volunteering
story.
I joined bookshare about a year and a half ago. Before that I was an avid
anti bookshare spokes person. I objected to the fact that bookshare charged
for
their services, and also to the fact that it's library wasn't totally
available to international readers. But I got desperate for something to read,
plus
a friend of mine told me I didn't know what I was talking about since I had
never been a bookshare member. So, I thought, I'll try it for a year then go
back to criticizing it with my own experiences to rely on. Unfortunately, I
love to read and got hooked on the books. So, about three months after I
joined I decided to look into volunteering to help defray the annual cost.
I don't scan because of arthritis in my hands, but part of my last job
before I retired was editing documents. I found I enjoyed the detail involved
in
editing, and, validating is just editing by another name.
Anyway, since I started volunteering, I've come to love it. I would validate
even if we didn't get credits for it. Don't get any big ideas bookshare
staff!
I now validate mainly books that I like to read, rather than just taking on
all comers. I take pride in doing a thorough job, and have only had one book
rejected. It was my first book, and being inexperienced, I messed up the
pagination something terrible. Thanks Carry for rejecting that long forgotten
book. I'd hate to think it was lingering on the site with my mistakes as part
of
it.
Anyway, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
Oh yes, lest I forget, I am now a convert to bookshare and apologize for all
my unwarranted criticisms.
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: _Lori Castner_ (mailto:loralee.castner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
To: _bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2008 12:48 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Volunteering for Bookshare
Hi, Folks,
Recent discussions on this list have caused me to think a lot about why I
volunteer for Bookshare.
However, without considering these discussions, i.e., whether volunteering
will continue change or be the same in the future, I want to share my own
experience here for those who might be interested.
A year and a half ago, I purchased my husband Mike a membership to Bookshare
because he was becoming bored with books from NLS. Although we have a
friend who validates books for Bookshare, that activity seemed very abstract
to
me, and I simply wanted to get Mike a source of new books. He had been
looking
for a volunteer activity in the community with little success, so he began
validating books and absolutely loved the activity.
Because of his enthusiasm, I purchased a bookshare membership to get books
to read, but primarily to validate books. And I enjoyed validating almost as
much as he did.
For us, bookshare is not so much a place to get reading material--although I
have read a fair number of books and have many as yet unread on my computer
and bookport and Mike has read very few books, but rather a way to give back,
a way to give to others. Sure, we can still scan books just for us to read,
but that process now seems incomplete, because Bookshare has provided a way
for us to share those books with others who would not find them through other
sources. Also, validating books so that they can become part of a larger
collection and be available for others to read is unexpressibly rewarding.
I used to knit items for three different charitable organizations, but since
developing arthritis in my thumbs I can no longer contribute very much in
that way. I also write poetry, but very few benefit from my poems at this
time. If we had not discovered the joy of volunteering for Bookshare, Mike
might
still be looking for a gratifying volunteer activity, which for a blind
person can be as difficult as finding a fulfilling job. And, I might be
wondering how to give back to the world.
Sure, without volunteering for bookshare, we would have time to read more
books, but that is only partially rewarding and fulfilling. We might spend
more time with friends, but many of them work days and have most evenings
filled
with family, errands, etc. But without the fulfillment of giving back to
others through volunteering for Bookshare, our lives would be less rich, less
fulfilled, and less meaningful.
I speak only for myself although I am sure I am sharing a common feeling.
Thanks! Bookshare!
Cat Lover Lori
P.S. and I would have more time to play with and pamper our cat who now sits
in our den and watches us contribute to the world!
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