[access-uk] Re: Recurring Faults in RNIB Overdrive Books?
- From: "Richard Godfrey-McKay" <lists.godfrey-mckay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2015 21:31:39 -0000
With respect, it was possible to download books from the RNIB talking book
library using an early version of the Netplextalk software, and I presume that
the download option was removed from future versions because of copyright
concerns. It's rather a pity that the old system couldn't have been retained
or modified, as the netplextalk software was simple enough to use.
Richard
Richard Godfrey-McKay
Telephone: 01738-445 880
Mobile: 07791 452 593
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Mike Ray
Sent: 01 February 2015 21:06
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Recurring Faults in RNIB Overdrive Books?
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
> similar 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 system 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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