Project Gutenberg...

carpetmojo · 12-04-2011, 01:52 PM

Is this splendid project still running - I Know the library's there still, but are they adding content still ?
I appreciate the founder has recently died, but seeing a request for help with the project still up, I thought I'd see what was involved in proof-reading for them.
I got a heading to link to, but this had the rider "this information is no longer accurate".

So I ...... didn't go further..

Is it simply stalled until things are set in train again, or is the content to remain as it is ?

theducks · 12-04-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Is this splendid project still running - I Know the library's there still, but are they adding content still ?
I appreciate the founder has recently died, but seeing a request for help with the project still up, I thought I'd see what was involved in proof-reading for them.
I got a heading to link to, but this had the rider "this information is no longer accurate".

So I ...... didn't go further..

Is it simply stalled until things are set in train again, or is the content to remain as it is ?

I just viewed a book,The Boyhood of Great Inventors by A. Fraser Robertson , that was added 3Dec2011

Greg Anos · 12-04-2011, 02:02 PM

Check with Greg Weeks. He has posted here occasionally.

There are still books being added, but I know they have a year+ backlog...

ATDrake · 12-04-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Is this splendid project still running - I Know the library's there still, but are they adding content still ?
I appreciate the founder has recently died, but seeing a request for help with the project still up, I thought I'd see what was involved in proof-reading for them.

Yeah, they're still doing daily updates, as the guy who founded it set things up so it would keep running without them.

What you want is to join PG's Distributed Proofreaders (the main site seems to be down, so linkage to the Wikipedia article describing), which is available in a number of "flavours" for different regions' copyright terms so if you live in an eligible area, you can specialize your contributions for the stuff that's Life+ instead of those wacky Disneyfied US rules.

Here's a quickie e-How article on How to Volunteer with Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders and Preserve Historic Books, which describes the practical steps a little more succinctly.

Hope this helps.

NicholasV · 12-04-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

... I know they have a year+ backlog...

Is there a place one can see just the backlog from the completed Distributed Proofreaders projects that are not yet added to the official Gutenberg site? A year backlog sounds pretty significant to miss.

wizwor · 12-04-2011, 03:01 PM

How long until Peggy Bacon's Ghost of Opalina can be transcribed? Seems to be a sought after book whose author is dead and publishers are not interested in reprinting.

HarryT · 12-04-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizwor

How long until Peggy Bacon's Ghost of Opalina can be transcribed? Seems to be a sought after book whose author is dead and publishers are not interested in reprinting.

She died in 1987, so her books will enter the public domain in countries with a life+70 copyright term on 1st Jan, 2058. Not too much longer to wait.

Rob Lister · 12-04-2011, 03:44 PM

Distributed Proofreaders (the sourcing site for Gutenburg) is down today for maintenance. They'll be back up tomorrow (or later tonight).

The Current backlog for DP is 18 months; roughly a million pages. This represents the pages that have already been OCR'd, undergone three rounds of proofing, two rounds of formatting, and are awaiting finalization. Most of that backlog is in Post Processing and verification; this is where the final transcription gets smoothed into the final readable forms for posting on GP.

If you'd like to volunteer, all you have to do is read the proofing rules, take an easy quiz, and start proofing. As you get experience, you move into formatting and the higher rounds of proofing. Post processing and smooth reading are also available activities.

There's a huge variety of projects in work; everything from encyclopedic volumes of science and knowledge to old-timey dime-store novels. Something for every interest.

Careful though ... its habit-forming.

Wanna know more? PM me.

gweeks · 12-04-2011, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATDrake

What you want is to join PG's Distributed Proofreaders (the main site seems to be down, so linkage to the Wikipedia article describing), which is available in a number of "flavours" for different regions' copyright terms so if you live in an eligible area, you can specialize your contributions for the stuff that's Life+ instead of those wacky Disneyfied US rules.

Project Gutenberg is still very much alive.

PGDP is doing an OS upgrade today Sunday 4 December 2011. The proofing site will be back up as soon as the upgrade is finished. There is a 12 hour window scheduled for the upgrade, but it's likely to be shorter than that.

The Canadian site http://www.pgdpcanada.net/ is still up today. The different Projects are independent of each other, but there is a fair bit of overlap in the volunteers.

Greg Weeks

RainingLemur · 12-04-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gweeks

Project Gutenberg is still very much alive.

And thankfully so. PG has been a blessing in so many ways.

carpetmojo · 12-04-2011, 05:42 PM

Thank you everyone - wonderful that the work continues.

I shall follow up all the info given, excellent.

mldavis2 · 12-05-2011, 08:10 AM

I've worked with (for) DP for over a year now. I consider it a payback for all the great works they've formatted and proofed for the public domain through PG. The big holdup is the later "polishing" stages in which only very experienced proofers can work. There are so few of them at that level that it does take an inordinate amount of time to complete the process. Add to that the complex formatting of some of the older printed material and you have a natural bottleneck in the process.

Namekuseijin · 12-05-2011, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

She died in 1987, so her books will enter the public domain in countries with a life+70 copyright term on 1st Jan, 2058. Not too much longer to wait.

How do you get Andre Norton books now, then?

copyright law as it is won't outlive public outcry for long...

PG is wonderful.

orange! · 12-05-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Lister

...If you'd like to volunteer, all you have to do is read the proofing rules, take an easy quiz, and start proofing. As you get experience, you move into formatting and the higher rounds of proofing. Post processing and smooth reading are also available activities....

Thanks for the reminder. One of the cool things about DP is that you can just do a little bit intermittentty--a few minutes here and there adds up. I tried to do a little for DP almost every day for a while a few years ago, but I had gotten out of the habit.

HarryT · 12-05-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Namekuseijin

How do you get Andre Norton books now, then?

I buy them from Baen, personally.

12-04-2011, 01:52 PM	#1
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Project Gutenberg... Is this splendid project still running - I Know the library's there still, but are they adding content still ? I appreciate the founder has recently died, but seeing a request for help with the project still up, I thought I'd see what was involved in proof-reading for them. I got a heading to link to, but this had the rider "this information is no longer accurate". So I ...... didn't go further.. Is it simply stalled until things are set in train again, or is the content to remain as it is ?

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12-04-2011, 02:02 PM	#3
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,546 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Check with Greg Weeks. He has posted here occasionally. There are still books being added, but I know they have a year+ backlog...

12-04-2011, 03:01 PM	#6
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	How long until Peggy Bacon's Ghost of Opalina can be transcribed? Seems to be a sought after book whose author is dead and publishers are not interested in reprinting.

12-04-2011, 03:44 PM	#8
Rob Lister Fanatic Posts: 532 Karma: 3293888 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Virginia Device: Nook Simple Touch	Distributed Proofreaders (the sourcing site for Gutenburg) is down today for maintenance. They'll be back up tomorrow (or later tonight). The Current backlog for DP is 18 months; roughly a million pages. This represents the pages that have already been OCR'd, undergone three rounds of proofing, two rounds of formatting, and are awaiting finalization. Most of that backlog is in Post Processing and verification; this is where the final transcription gets smoothed into the final readable forms for posting on GP. If you'd like to volunteer, all you have to do is read the proofing rules, take an easy quiz, and start proofing. As you get experience, you move into formatting and the higher rounds of proofing. Post processing and smooth reading are also available activities. There's a huge variety of projects in work; everything from encyclopedic volumes of science and knowledge to old-timey dime-store novels. Something for every interest. Careful though ... its habit-forming. Wanna know more? PM me.

12-04-2011, 05:42 PM	#11
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Thank you everyone - wonderful that the work continues. I shall follow up all the info given, excellent.

12-05-2011, 08:10 AM	#12
mldavis2 Coffee Nut Posts: 410 Karma: 298350 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Missouri Device: Kindle 3; K4PC; Calibre	I've worked with (for) DP for over a year now. I consider it a payback for all the great works they've formatted and proofed for the public domain through PG. The big holdup is the later "polishing" stages in which only very experienced proofers can work. There are so few of them at that level that it does take an inordinate amount of time to complete the process. Add to that the complex formatting of some of the older printed material and you have a natural bottleneck in the process.

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