I love Bookshare. Here are some reasons:
1. I've read the wonderful biography of Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow;
2. I've read several scholarly books on prostate cancer treatment; one of these
resulted in calling a doctor in Houston who recommended a doctor in New York
City who removed my partner's prostate which threatened his life and had some
complications associated with it. These special books are absolutely not
available to blind people from other sources as they are specialty medical
books.
3. AS a tourist in Paris with my partner, my assignment was to plan our
restaurant visits. Bookshare came to my rescue with several guides to choose
from (Frommer, Alexander Lobrano, Moon, and Fodor). On previous visits, I had
been a passive observer; Bookshare enabled me to be an active planner.
4. The medical books on Bookshare could save your life (see item 2, above). In
addition, they can give you deep dives into specialized knowledge.
Example, I had two failed dental implants. I borrowed the book Dental Implant
Failure by Wilson and Harrel to better protect my next investment of $10,000 in
my teeth.
5. Volunteering for Bookshare gives me purpose. I'm a loner, like to work
unsupervised, and am a perfectionist. Bookshare channels these pluses and
minuses into useful work that benefits blind, dyslexic and other challenged
readers. Could I ask for more.
6. Bookshare has the books that certain people are trying to ban from libraries.
7. On Bookshare, LGBTQ readers have an immense library. I mainly go for
nonfiction like history but there's much more!
8. Musicians of all stripes can read in depth on their instruments, composers,
performers, and theory.
9. I am a regular listener to Terry Gross's Fresh Air program from NPR. Nearly
every book she discusses is on Bookshare!
10. Bookshare books are available worldwide thanks to the Marrakesh treaty.
I'm now 73, going on 74, and for most of my life this immense resource wasn't
available.
Is Bookshare perfect? Is the world perfect? No. But those of us who are
volunteers and/or paid staff are in a noble enterprise that we can be proud of
to share with others.
Terry Gorman, Chicago, Illinois
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 6:31 AM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: the inability to get books aproved
Another thing volunteers do that publishers don't, besides adding indy books,
is add older books.
I read a good book that begins a series, and is an older book, but the rest of
the series is not available on Bookshare. I put it on the wishlist, so I'm
still vaguely hopeful someone will take care of it. Scanning is not my best
thing.
It would be a sad day if that all disappeared.
Tracy
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ann
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 3:58 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: the inability to get books aproved
It will be a shame and a very sad day for Bookshare if this is true.
~Ann
On 10/25/2022 3:51 PM, slumpkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
If that's true,To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to
we should just be told because that's what it looks like. At a meeting
with Amanda in the distant past, we volunteers were told it was
necessary to submit only one book a year to Bookshare. Why bother, if
that's all that's expected? Larry and I both started to wonder then if
Bookshare didn't want to get rid of us!
Susan
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