Online research database -- How you can help
Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2004 1:07 pm
Howdy folks! I know it's been a long time since I was here. Most won't remember me, and there is mixed feelings from those that do. This is important however and you guys are the perfect folks to check this out and spread the word.
As most of you know, Project Gutenburg is an online source for e-books. These are free downloads and contain books that are public domain (out of copyright) or publishers have given special rights to. PG was started in 1971, and is growing as an astonishing rate. See www.gutenberg.net
Distributed Proofreaders is now the largest source of material for Project Gutenburg. www.pgdp.net DP is entirely volunteer. They find books, scan books, OCR them, proof them, recompile and submit. DP needs help.
Now for basic proofing, you get to pick your project. You check out a page at a time. If you don't like it you can send it back. A lot of people never go past first round proofing, but after a certain number of pages you get the chance to do second round proofing and post-processing if you want. Proofing doesn't require any additional software, just an internet connection and a browser. A page a day is a big help.
I recently worked on a project from 1577. I just posted a tract on weaving originally published in 1677. These are all great resources and historical documentation.
There are many ways to help. You can find books and send them to a Project manager for inclusion in DP. You can scan books for others. You can OCR scans. Proof first round, proof second round, post process books, shepherd projects throught he process (project management) or just get the word out.
Volunteers have created free software you can download for post processing. The only software in the whole shebang you would have to buy is if you wanted to work on the OCR phase. Once again this isn't necessary as they have an OCR pool for those that can't afford a good OCR program.
In any case, it's simple, easy and only requires what tiem you are free to give it. It is a way to make the research materials we all desire readily and easily available. The address again is www.pgdp.net
Email me with questions, Thanks folks!
-Kimber
As most of you know, Project Gutenburg is an online source for e-books. These are free downloads and contain books that are public domain (out of copyright) or publishers have given special rights to. PG was started in 1971, and is growing as an astonishing rate. See www.gutenberg.net
Distributed Proofreaders is now the largest source of material for Project Gutenburg. www.pgdp.net DP is entirely volunteer. They find books, scan books, OCR them, proof them, recompile and submit. DP needs help.
Now for basic proofing, you get to pick your project. You check out a page at a time. If you don't like it you can send it back. A lot of people never go past first round proofing, but after a certain number of pages you get the chance to do second round proofing and post-processing if you want. Proofing doesn't require any additional software, just an internet connection and a browser. A page a day is a big help.
I recently worked on a project from 1577. I just posted a tract on weaving originally published in 1677. These are all great resources and historical documentation.
There are many ways to help. You can find books and send them to a Project manager for inclusion in DP. You can scan books for others. You can OCR scans. Proof first round, proof second round, post process books, shepherd projects throught he process (project management) or just get the word out.
Volunteers have created free software you can download for post processing. The only software in the whole shebang you would have to buy is if you wanted to work on the OCR phase. Once again this isn't necessary as they have an OCR pool for those that can't afford a good OCR program.
In any case, it's simple, easy and only requires what tiem you are free to give it. It is a way to make the research materials we all desire readily and easily available. The address again is www.pgdp.net
Email me with questions, Thanks folks!
-Kimber