[access-uk] Re: Recurring Faults in RNIB Overdrive Books?
- From: Mike Ray <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2015 21:06:26 +0000
I don't think anybody on here has any idea of the costs associated with
the generation of a bespoke download system for online delivery of books.
The RNIB have simply bought an off-the-shelf pre-existing solution and
shoe-horned it into use.
The rest of their e-commerce function since it has been possible to buy
stuff directly on the RNIB shop site is equally clunky and
ill-conceived. But this is likely to reflect the kind of budget they
have available for this.
They simply don't have enough money to generate a totally new book
download mechanism.
I'm not defending what has happened. I simply understand that there is
no way they would have been able to afford to do otherwise. And I am
betting they don't have access to properly skilled developers. I know
how much I used to cost and it's shocking :-O
Mike
On 01/02/2015 20:56, Paul Warner wrote:
> I don't think that the concept of using Overdrive was good at all. If
> the RNIB simply wanted their customers to be able to download titles,
> they could have implemented a relatively simple download manager for
> Daisy files. The whole reason for choosing Overdrive is the superficial
> perception that it manages electronic borrowing. The thing is, it doesn't.
>
> If legal rights management were to require the library to ensure that
> books are electronically borrowed, as opposed to being retained, then
> they should have implemented a secure download and playback system
> siilar to that employed by Audible. However, Overdrive is not secure -
> you can freely copy files and play the titles using any audio player.
> The farce is that the RNIB don't even pretend that you can't play the
> files out of the Overdrive apps: in fact, they give you instructions on
> how to copy the files to other devices which has the effect of defeating
> the borrowing management features of the Overdrive concept.
>
> What this means is that the library is effectively reliant on the
> customer deleting the book after it has been read. This reliance is
> just as insecure as relying on customers to delete Daisy titles had the
> RNIB made their own catalogue downloadable. In fact, since the Daisy CD
> books can be copied to any drive, the library already has to rely on
> this understanding.
>
> I don't think the RNIB is making any money from Overdrive. In fact,
> it's probably the other way round since the RNIB have effectively
> out-sourced their download library to Overdrive. It will probably dawn
> on someone in the RNIB at some point that the choice of using Overdrive
> has been a monumental mistake since, in addition to failing to providing
> the expected borrowing security, the format conversion process has
> corrupted an unacceptably high percentage of stock..
>
> If this were not enough, the administration of the system is chaotic.
> Not only was a seamless tsystem for transferring membership from the CD
> service to Overdrive not implemented, some members, like me, will find
> that they are still getting sent CD titles after their membership has
> been 'transferred' to Overdrive. The consequences for the project
> leader in the RNIB should be obvious.
>
> Paul
>
> On 01/02/2015 19:05, Paul Leake wrote:
>> I agree Iain, they backed the daisy system which they knew worked for
>> blind people and then they drop it for something less navigable! I can
>> only think they did this for financial reasons but they'll never admit
>> to this. Where is rnib's accountability and transparency?
>>
>> Kind regards,
>>
>> Paul
>> Twitter: @paulleake1
>>
>> paul.leake@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Iain Lackie" <ilackie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Date sent: Sun, 1 Feb 2015 18:51:34 -0000
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Recurring Faults in RNIB Overdrive Books?
>>
>> The concept is good. The platform could be a lot better. They should
>> never
>> have ditched DAISY.
>>
>> Iain
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Steve Nutt
>> Sent: Sunday, February 1, 2015 6:06 PM
>> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Recurring Faults in RNIB Overdrive Books?
>>
>> Hi David,
>>
>> You mean they would give you the money back? I may well consider
>> this, as I
>> believe Kindle and Audible are the way to go and nowhere near so many
>> problems. Oh yes and ibooks as well.
>>
>> Overdrive seems to me to have been a good idea, badly implemented.
>>
>> A;ll the best
>>
>> Steve
>> --
>> Computer Room Services
>> 77 Exeter Close
>> Stevenage
>> Hertfordshire
>> SG1 4PW
>> Tel: +44(0)1438-742286
>> Mob: +44(0)7956-334938
>> Fax: +44(0)1438-759589
>> Email: steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
>> Behalf Of
>> David Griffith
>> Sent: 30 January 2015 20:19
>> To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: Recurring Faults in RNIB Overdrive Books?
>>
>> I also reported a book before Christmas as faulty and they also
>> emailed me
>> back saying that there was nothing wrong with the book, even though it is
>> obvious if you listen to the whole book that there is a whole section
>> missing, a major section about the theft of military equipment so not a
>> minor part of the plot.
>>
>> I am not sure that there is much we can do. Despite receiving
>> reassurances
>> that the catalogue would be sorted out in the �쏯ew Year�� I am still
>> waiting
>> for books I asked to be transferred from the main TB catalogue, to the
>> Overdrive catalogue in November to arrive. The team has proved supremely
>> indifferent to issues and suggestions that I and others make which may
>> improve the service. The attitude appears to be that you can abandon the
>> service and get your money back or just put up with the poor delivery
>> and
>> lump it.
>>
>> David Griffith . On 30 Jan 2015, at 18:05, John Gurd
>> <j.gurd@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>> wrote:
>>
>> Hi all
>>
>>
>>
>> I have just had to scrap a book from RNIB OverDrive due to multiple
>> faults.
>> I reported it to the OverDrive team who checked it and told me it was
>> fine
>> and advised me to download it again. I've done so and discovered it has
>> exactly the same issues. It is Pompeii by Mary Beard. Parts have been
>> mislabelled and so are out of order and at least one Part seems
>> incomplete.
>> This is the second book I've had where there has been a fault like this.
>>
>>
>>
>> Has anyone else noticed incomplete or mixed up parts of books? I'm
>> wondering
>> if it is not a one-off and if there is a more general problem that has
>> allowed some books to have become corrupted.
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>>
>>
>> John Gurd
>>
>>
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--
Michael A. Ray
Analyst/Programmer
Witley, Surrey, South-east UK
Don't judge my disability until you witness my ability
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