[bksvol-discuss] Re: Volunteers: how much work is realistic
- From: "Merrill Louise" <STARBASEWILDGOOSE@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 09:23:59 -0400
Hi Paula,
You can validate books simply according to the guidelines or do more if you
like. I, like you, can live with errors so long as the book is intelligible,
especially where light fiction is concerned. If Star Trek personnel use corn
badges instead of com badges, I can live with that.
Merrill Louise, Pastor
The Judson Fellowship
Jamestown, New York
cell/office 716.969.2840
"With all my heart I praise the Lord, and I am glad because of God my
Savior. (Luke 1:46-47)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paula Mack" <pmack1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 8:28 AM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Volunteers: how much work is realistic
> Hi listers,
>
> I have been reading with some dismay the discussion regarding book
validation. I volunteered my time, because I was under the impression that
volunteers were needed. This is evident in the amount of books awaiting
validation. I assumed that the job involved making sure that all title,
author and copyright information were included and that they were accurate.
I assumed that a spellcheck would be necessary to eliminate the OCR errors
that crop up. The guidelines I was sent seemed to indicate this, and in
fact, didn't even suggest spellcheck, although I think that would be
necessary in even the most perfect scan.
>
> However, from this list and the other Bookshare list, I am getting the
feeling that anything less than going over each word and page number with a
fine-tooth comb is not wanted. Now, I can't speak for any one else, but I
am extremely anxious to help out at bookshare. However, when I scan my own
books, I don't expect perfection. When I read Bookshare books, I don't
expect perfection. OCR, can not, at least at this point in time, provide
perfection. If people have the time to go through every character
comprising a book, that's fine. Personally, I have a full-time job, a home,
and a family. I don't have that kind of time, and frankly, if I did, I
don't think I'd want to spend it in this manner. As an avid reader, I'd
rather see more books available, then have less books to choose from and
have them be perfect.
>
> I would like the staff to make some kind of statement regarding this
issue. If this kind of microscopic examination of each book is desired,
then I suspect there may be less people willing to volunteer.
>
> Personally, I still want to volunteer. However, if following the
guidelines as they are, along with spellchecking is not acceptable, then I
would like to know this. I certainly would not want to cause problems by
releasing books that the staff does not deem acceptable. however, if a
microscopic examination of each book is truly what is wanted, I think this
needs to be made clear so that potential volunteers can make an informed
decision.
>
> thanks,
>
> Paula
>
>
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