Booksharian Heroes Hit 40,000

Bookshare.org just hit a milestone by reaching 40,000 accessible books in our collection. This is always a cause for celebration by our team, recognizing the incredible amount of work involved in bringing each book to our Bookshare.org members by our volunteers and collection development staff.

Reading our volunteer email listserv this morning, I came across lyrics to a song about our volunteer community. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and recognize the heroic nature of volunteer service! Thanks to volunteer Lissi for writing this.

Volunteering is a fascinating, fulfilling blessing resulting in my reading wonderful books, learning new things and getting to know people I enjoy, care about and admire. I wrote this parody of Paul Overstreet's song, "Heroes," with all Booksharians in mind.

Booksharian Heroes

He opens up his scanner
In the hours before dawn
So he can finish up this book
Before the day is gone.

He optimizes settings
He holds the book down tight
Scannoes out and page breaks in
The whole book must be right.

You know heroes come in every shape and size,
Making special sacrifices for others in their lives.
No one gives them prizes,
The world don't know their names,
But in someone's eyes they're heroes just the same.

She Turns on her computer.
She'll work extra hard today.
Someone wants to read this book,
They need it right away.

She reads the pages word by word.
She doesn't stop for breaks.
She spell checks and double checks,
And fixes the mistakes.

We know heroes come in every shape and size,
Making special sacrifices for others in their lives.
No one gives them prizes,
The world don't know their names,
But in someone's eyes they're heroes just the same

You sit down to read e mail.
You've just joined a new list.
You still don't know just how it's done.
You're trying to get the gist.

You're starting to get answers
For questions that you send
And the person who's been helping you
Has now become your friend..

Remember heroes come in every shape and size,
Making special sacrifices for others in their lives.
No one gives them prizes,
The world don't know their names,
But in someone's eyes they're heroes just the same.

I can't say I know all of you
But still it's safe to say
Someone out there's read your books
With gratitude today.

They're reading your book avidly
Excusing your mistakes.
There is no doubt about it,
Cause you've got all it takes.

Bookshare heroes come in every shape and size,
Making special sacrifices for others in their lives.
No one gives them prizes,
The world don't know their names,
But in someone's eyes they're heroes just the same.

I'm talking about heroes.
Extraordinary Heroes.
Booksharian Heroes!