Volunteer Overview

You can help Bookshare™ dramatically increase the number of books available to people with print disabilities. Currently only five percent of print publications are available in accessible formats for children and adults with print disabilities. With your help, we can make more books available to people eager to read. Bookshare is looking for volunteers to:

  • Scan books and submit them over the Web.
  • Review and improve quality of submitted books by proofreading.
  • Review book information, synopses and classification.
  • Write reviews of books.

Any U.S. resident over 15 years of age can volunteer. Whether you are sighted or have a print disability, whether you are a computing expert or an Internet novice, Bookshare can use your help. All you need is a passion for books, an Internet connection and basic computer skills (web browsing and basic word processing). Copyright law unfortunately limits volunteering by non-U.S. residents.

  • Equipment
    You will need a computer and access to the Internet. If you don’t have a scanner, don’t worry; you can proofread books that have already been scanned.
  • Time
    Volunteer on your own schedule. There are no minimum or maximum time requirements.
  • Location
    You can volunteer from home, school, work or anywhere you can connect to the Internet.

Learn how to sign up for volunteering.

Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering for Bookshare has a number of benefits:

  • Bookshare volunteers are a very active community and have book clubs, a discussion group, awards and events.
  • For general reading, the fastest way to get a book into the Bookshare library is to become a volunteer and scan it for submission.
  • Bookshare awards $2.50 in credits for successfully submitting or validating a book. Bookshare applies these credits to your account once the book has been added to the library. Volunteers with print disabilities can apply these credits toward their membership fees. Sighted Volunteers can donate their credits to Bookshare Members. For more information, contact the Bookshare Volunteer Coordinator.

Additional Rewards

In addition to the camaraderie of other volunteers and a sense of accomplishment, one volunteer summed up the benefits this way:

  1. I've met a lot of people I really like and admire, who not only brighten my day with their humor and writing and thinking abilities but help me to appreciate my health and not complain about minor aches and pains.
  2. I get to read twice as many books as I would otherwise, because I read as I proofread, and also read on my own.
  3. I've been introduced, because of validating, to authors and books I never would have thought of reading, and learned, from some of the nonfiction, about things I would never have otherwise.
  4. Because I've proofread books written by so many different writers, fiction and nonfiction, my ability to recognize good writing from bad has improved.
  5. I feel my life is worthwhile because I'm doing something to benefit others, and not just sitting around spending my retirement years in frivolous pursuits. Smile.
    — Grandma Cindy